Description
A Lang’s intravenous hypertonic saline infusion temporarily creates a hypertonic expansion within the blood. 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.
The effect of Lang’s in stimulating the thirst reflex can be used to encourage a horse to drink before and after travelling and will also encourage those horses that may be reluctant to drink when subject to prolonged exercise.
