Calcium - More than Just Bone
Posted by Dr. Amy Gill on Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Under: Nutrition Tips & Advice
Often when we hear the word calcium we think of it as a bone building nutrient, but calcium also serves many vital functional roles in addition to structural roles. As discussed in our previous blog post, Keeping the Horse Replenished – Equine Electrolytes,
calcium is one of the most important electrolytes, which are mineral
salts that create electrical current in the horse. When evaluating the
distribution of calcium in the horse we see that:
Sometimes water and electrolyte losses are so great that even homeostasis mechanisms cannot be maintained, which is the case when furosemide is administered. When homeostasis cannot be sustained, horses often are afflicted with what is termed “thumps” or synchronous diaphragmatic flutter. "Thumps" is seen in horses that have sweated or been depleted of water and electrolytes for prolonged time periods. Low blood calcium, potassium, and chlorine result in an increase in neuromuscular irritability and hypersensitivity of the phrenic nerve. With thumps, the beating of the heart stimulates the hypersensitive phrenic nerve to fire. This results in a contraction of the diaphragm seen at the flank each time the heart beats. Horses affected with thumps must be given intravenous calcium and electrolytes immediately to prevent sudden cardiac failure and other musculo-skeletal and neurological problems.
Calcium’s role in the body goes beyond being a bone nutrient; it is an integral part of the body’s vital systems. The effects of not keeping the horse’s electrolyte levels properly replenished or altering the body with medication can be wides
- Approximately 99% of the calcium in the body is found in the bones and teeth
- Bone is comprised of about 35% calcium
- Causing muscle to contract
- Cardiac function
- Blood coagulation
- Cell membrane function
- Regulation of enzymes that are needed for many biochemical reactions.
Sometimes water and electrolyte losses are so great that even homeostasis mechanisms cannot be maintained, which is the case when furosemide is administered. When homeostasis cannot be sustained, horses often are afflicted with what is termed “thumps” or synchronous diaphragmatic flutter. "Thumps" is seen in horses that have sweated or been depleted of water and electrolytes for prolonged time periods. Low blood calcium, potassium, and chlorine result in an increase in neuromuscular irritability and hypersensitivity of the phrenic nerve. With thumps, the beating of the heart stimulates the hypersensitive phrenic nerve to fire. This results in a contraction of the diaphragm seen at the flank each time the heart beats. Horses affected with thumps must be given intravenous calcium and electrolytes immediately to prevent sudden cardiac failure and other musculo-skeletal and neurological problems.
Calcium’s role in the body goes beyond being a bone nutrient; it is an integral part of the body’s vital systems. The effects of not keeping the horse’s electrolyte levels properly replenished or altering the body with medication can be wides
Tags: calcium electrolytes