Nino Bugeja / 17 Jul 2005 14:00

Electrolytes, What do you know about them.

You may wonder why a bird that has done some moderate exercise, or one that
has done a lot of strenuous exercise comes down panting and looking for
water in the worst way. It has to do with in most cases, but not all the
effects of a loss of Electrolytes.

As a bird expels energy, various energy sources are utilized. The body's
water and electrolytes ( or Salts ) are used. In particular sodium and
potassium. When a bird is under a more strenuous exercise, and when a birds
breathing can not supply sufficient oxygen, lactic acid is produced, this
sodium bonds to the lactic acid before passing from the muscle cell and is
eventually lost to the system in the urine component of the dropping. This
leads to muscle weakness and fatigue.

After a hard strenuous fly, if a bird is offered only water alone, this
further dilutes what electrolytes remain in the system, leading to water
intoxication and a prolonged recovery.

As in all things when dealing with health, it is the responsibility of the
fancier to have a good general knowledge of "Why" things occur the way they
do. So the next time your birds come down panting for air, looking
dehydrated, it may just be a Electrolyte deficiency that is easily remedied.

That's Food For Thought
Nino

From Wayne Frampton 7/18/2005 2:51AM

nino in general the eltro particles in animals are usually balanced 50 /50
59 neg 50 positive but in hard exercise, illness, and or under extreme
stress this balance goes lopsided the liquid part of blood that carries
necessary oxygen and nutriments to all part of the body is alkaline under
normal conditions but when the balance is upset from above causes the liquid
part of the blood becomes acidic and spreads the acid throughout the body
causing damage so by diving electrolytes what you are doing is helping to
maintain the natural balance and bring natural balance back quickly after
strenuous activity ollness or severe stress, this is just a generic bit of
information from memory as i took that course over 10 years ago, if anyone
is genuinely interested I can send them my notes but this is many many pages
to post on this forum

wayne

Submitted by Nino Bugeja on 7/17/2005 2:50 PM