horses that won't drink

Administration of a Lang's Solution temporarily changes the blood picture of a hypotonic contraction to one of a hypertonic expansion - a gain of salts in excess of water.

The increased extra-cellular sodium from the Lang's results in a transfer of fluid from the intracellular to the extracellular compartments. The packed cell volume (PCV) is reduced due to the increased plasma volume by the temporary transfer of tissue fluids into the bloodstream. The red blood cell (RBC) count and haemoglobin level is also reduced, sometimes to an apparently anaemic level.

The effect of a Lang's is similar to the once common practice of "Bleeding" - a procedure that dramatically depleted blood volume and as a result, stimulated the recovery of body fluids to normal levels.

A return to normal blood volume and fluid levels can be assisted with the administration of a DOCA Injection (deoxycorticosterone acetate) which promotes increased resorption of sodium with consequent retention of extracellular water.

The combination of a Lang's Solution plus advice on restriction of fast work has often resulted in a spectacular return to form.

For horses that won't drink

Horses that become dehydrated because of prolonged exercise such as endurance events or due to especially humid, hot conditions may not drink despite a drop in body fluids because body water and body salts are lost together in sweat. As such, if plasma osmolality does not increase, the thirst reflex is not stimulated.

This state of "voluntary dehydration" may be overcome by administration of a Lang's Solution which will create the increased plasma osmolality to stimulate the thirst reflex and get a horse to drink.

Composition: Each 500ml pouch contains Sodium chloride 19 grams and Sodium citrate 19 grams providing Na ions 14.1g and Chloride ions 11.2g

Actions: Alkaline hypertonic saline infusion stimulates the thirst reflex. In cases of hypotonic contraction due to loss of salt in excess of water, administration of 500ml Lang's Solution temporarily creates the condition of a hypertonic expansion. The increased extracellular sodium results in a transfer of fluid from the intracellular to the extracellular compartments and stimulates the thirst reflex in order to restore the fluid status and intracellular and extracellular osmotic pressures.

Presentation
Packed in 500ml medical PVC pouch with 900mm draw-off tube and luer slip plug, complete with 14-gauge catheter.

Directions For Use: Administer entire contents of 500ml by intravenous infusion. This product should be used only by registered veterinary surgeons.

Warning: The saline solution is an irritant extra-vascularly due to its hypertonicity. Recommended procedure is to use the 14-gauge catheter provided in preference to a needle.