Performance horses can only function properly if the pH (acidity) of the blood is within a very precise narrow range of pH 7.42 to 7.45. Any variation from this normal range will result in a decreased performance.

All day long the body produces acids as a normal part of metabolism, even in resting horses. The body is continually neutralising and excreting these acids to preserve the pH of tissue cells and blood within the optimal range, so the body can function normally. In resting and only slightly active horses the body maintains the correct acid-base balance through a complex series of processes, including the elimination of carbon dioxide through the lungs during breathing, and the elimination of lactic acid through the kidneys and urine.

Normally a non-working horse can eliminate excess acid without depleting its salt (or alkali) reserve, but the situation changes dramatically when the horse is subject to strenuous exercise.

Different types of work result in different electrolyte losses

Horses performing low intensity exercise for long periods (trotters, endurance, eventers) lose large amounts of sweat which is high in electrolytes, particularly chloride ions. This lower intensity exercise uses oxygen to provide energy, and is known as aerobic exercise. This creates a high blood pH (known as a metabolic alkalosis). Aerobic exercise does not produce high levels of lactic acid.

Horses performing short term, high intensity (sprint) work, such as gallopers, lose relatively smaller volumes of sweat, but develop lactic acidosis from anaerobic metabolism. This intense exercise uses a different energy production pathway, where energy is provided from carbohydrates without oxygen (anaerobic exercise). The side effect of this intense exercise is the production of large amounts of lactic acid. Blood lactic acid levels increase dramatically at speeds over 10 metres per second.

So, fast, maximal exercise causes acidosis, where the horse’s blood is more acidic than normal because of the higher levels of lactic acid in tissues and blood. This acidosis rapidly causes muscle fatigue, failure to finish (reduced stamina and endurance), muscle soreness and extended recovery periods. Acidosis can be worsened if a horse is dehydrated, with insufficient water and electrolytes to maintain normal body fluid balance. Electrolytes help maintain the cell and blood acidity near normal limits.

On the other hand, prolonged slow work tends to cause heavy sweat loss and alkalosis. Sweat contains large amounts of essential electrolytes, and these must be replaced rapidly to maintain normal body pH and fluid balance. Alkalosis causes poor performance, blowing after exercise, nervousness, muscle cramps, and increased blood bicarbonate levels.

The best way to neutralise acids is to use an alkali. The body does this very effectively by using the essential electrolyte, sodium (an alkali), which forms a salt with the excess lactic acid. The problem with this is that sodium reserves are quickly depleted when horses are producing a lot of lactic acid during hard exercise, and are losing sodium in sweat as well. Low body sodium levels reduce the normal thirst reflex, so horses with low sodium levels are often not inclined to drink after hard work, and thus don’t re-hydrate as well as they could.

In addition, when salts are formed while neutralising lactic acid, they can’t be lost through the kidneys unless they are in solution, so the body must use water it cannot afford to make sure the salts are eliminated. That’s one reason why electrolyte supplements are critical in performance horses. A horse in work loses, in one hour, up to twice as much water, sodium, and chlorides as would be lost normally during a whole day in a resting horse.

After energy availability, the accumulation of excess lactic acid in muscles and blood is the most limiting factor for muscle activity, and the most common cause of muscle fatigue, cramps, tying up and poor performance.

What about Excess Ammonia?

Some excess dietary protein is eliminated in urine as ammonia. This makes urine more acidic. When pungent ammonia smells are apparent in the horse’s box it indicates that protein levels are probably too high, and that the horse’s normal alkali reserves are depleted during the process of neutralising excessive body acids and eliminating excess ammonia.

What does Ranvet’s Neutrolene and Neutrolene Plus do?

Neutrolene and Neutrolene Plus provide sufficient sodium (alkali) as sodium acid citrate, to neutralise excess lactic acid in tissues and blood, and prevent sodium depletion. In doing so, it maintains blood and urine pH within normal limits to maintain optimum performance and recovery.

Neutrolene and Neutrolene Plus provide sodium acid citrate salts, where the sodium is supplemented, and the citrate salts actually enter muscle cells to neutralise lactic acid inside the cells, right where it is produced. Bicarbonate cannot enter cells, and so must remain in fluids around the cells. In this way Neutrolene acts to neutralise acid immediately at the site of production, not at a later stage when it has been released into body fluids and blood (as happens with bicarbonates).

Neutrolene Plus also contains additional buffer salts to further improve the ability to neutralise excessive lactic acid surges during hard exercise.

Important Note: It is vitally important that performance horses always receive additional daily electrolyte and salt supplementation to ensure that body fluid balance is at optimum levels. Use daily SALKAVITE supplementation in feed, with additional rock salt whenever horses are in work. Any horse which is deficient in essential electrolytes or water (dehydration) will suffer from decreased performance much more rapidly than normally hydrated horses.

Common Questions

What’s the difference between Neutrolene and Neutrolene Plus?
Both products contain sodium acid citrate and citric acid, while Neutrolene Plus provides additional acid buffering capability with added Trometamol (tris buffer). Both products have the same dose rate.

When should Neutrolene be used?
Neutrolene or Neutrolene Plus are best used as soon as possible after hard exercise. Either dosed orally over the tongue, or poured onto feed, Neutrolene will act to neutralise any excessive acid in blood and muscle tissue, to optimise recovery, when used at recommended dose rates.

Can it be used before competition?
Yes, but the rules of racing require that Neutrolene Plus, with additional tris buffer, not be administered within 48 hours of racing.

Is Neutrolene or Neutrolene Plus indicated for Tying Up and muscle soreness?
Yes. Although tying up has many causes, lactic acidosis is a primary factor in development of tying up. Horses that tend to repeatedly develop muscle cramps and tying up may benefit from the additional tris buffer in Neutrolene Plus, although either product will be effective.

Should all horses in work or competition receive Neutrolene or Neutrolene Plus?
Yes. Any horse doing hard physical exercise where some proportion of activity is anaerobic exercise will benefit from the acid neutralising effects of Neutrolene. Gallopers, trotters, eventers, jumpers, and some pleasure horses which have explosive power requirements over short periods will all benefit from regular Neutrolene use. Endurance horses which develop metabolic alkalosis from heavy sweating and long activity similarly maintain a near normal blood and tissue pH when supplemented with Neutrolene or Neutrolene Plus.

Can I use this in spelling horses, mares, etc?
There is no reason to use the acid neutralising effects of Neutrolene in resting horses normally. Although the product is safe in these horses, there will be little benefit unless horses are exercising heavily.

Can Neutrolene be used as an oral drench?
Yes. Administration over the tongue as soon as possible after hard exercise is commonly conducted, otherwise pour the recommended dose over feed.

What Pack Sizes are Available?
1L, 5L and 20L

What Dose Rates?
Neutrolene and Neutrolene Plus are both used at the same dose rates;
As a routine: 90mL daily, preferably as two 45mL doses in separate feeds
After a race or competition: an additional 30mL in the night feed
Normal administration is by pouring onto feed. May safely be administered by oral dosing over the tongue.

Is it safe to use with other supplements?
Yes. Neutrolene and Neutrolene Plus are regularly and safely supplemented in addition to Ranvet Salkavite electrolytes, and other nutritional supplements as required.