Lasix

Lasix

Horses are animals that are widely cherished through out the United States. Many people enjoy riding them, racing them, and competing on or with them. Horses, like humans, get sick though. In order to keep them healthy to perform the best they can, medical attention is needed. Inflammation and swelling are a major unsoundness, or fault in horses. Lasix can help that.
What is Lasix?
Lasix, or Furosemide is a medical tablet most commonly given to horses, specifically race horses. It is a diuretic, which means that it causes the kidneys to get rid of unneeded waters and minerals through the urine.
Why us Lasix?
Horses can easily suffer through excercie-induced pulmonary hemorrhaging, or EIPH. This means that when a horse is exposed to excessive activity, like racing, the plasma, or serum push on the lungs causing the capillaries inside to burst. This causes hemorrhaging, or bleeding inside the lungs, which is usually exhaled through the nostrils (since horse are unable to breathe through their mouth). Lasix stops this by depleting the liquids in the body, causing less pressure build up in the lungs. This depletes the likelyhood of EIPH to occur.
The Science behind Lasix
Furosemide can be ingested orally or injected to the inflammed area of the body. It goes into effect on cells such as erythrocytes and platelets, and in tissues including the ascending loop of henle, tracheal epithelium, and the smooth muscles of the body. It stops Chloride in its tracks of transportation into these cells. It does this by binding to the flouride molecules and injecting transporter proteins. In result, there is an accelerated shrinking of serum, and the serum concentrations of Chloride, Potassium, and Calcium are dwindled.
My thoughts
I got the information in this essay from three sources. I will explain to you why I chose these sources as I go through each.
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/hrs10688/$file/lasix.pdf I chose this site because of the research that was clearly done, yet the information given was easy to read and comprehend.
http://www.ivis.org/proceedings/aaep/2000/225.pdf I enjoyed this site due to the sophisticated wrighting it was put into. It sounded smart, and it still made sense to me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCjXlT2BwOc&feature=related This video explains in brief detail the uses, effects, and side effects of Lasix.