Current state of Thoroughbred Racing....

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by docicu3

With a good slug of a loop diuretic such as Lasix the V/Q mismatch is reversed in 30 minutes to an hour.Put a more simplistic way the patient can breathe better.....what could possibly be better for a horse!!!!

Although the increase in capillary area is useful in stopping bleeding in a horses feet and legs the effect in the lungs is profound and thus the horse is more comfortable running.



DrDave

Therefore if the drug is having the intended effect of stopping bleeding and allowing the horse to run more comfortably and the fact that virtually all horses are running on Lasix kind of makes the argument for its use. Defining a regular bleeder is compliated because virtually all horses will show some signs of blood in the trachea (throat) after racing or a workout. I was always puzzled by the theory that we should wait for a horse to bleed really badly before giving Lasix. It is like saying that you dont need to carry a spare tire with you untill after you have been stuck on the side of the road without one.