Aspects of forced exercise and the therapy thereof in sheep

Sixteen Merino sheep were subjected to forced exercise after which half were treated with sodium bicarbonate, vitamin B complex, antibiotics and a glucocorticoid. Cardiac rate, rectal temperature and blood were taken from all the animals before, immediately after and again two and five hours after exercise. Exercise resulted in increased cardiac cardiac rate, rectal temperature, plasma levels of glucose, lactate, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, potassium, and decreased levels of blood pH, buffer base, bicarbonate, base excess and CO2. Compared with the controls, the therapy increased plasma glucose and blood pH, buffer base, bicarbonate and base excess, while there was a significant decrease in plasma potassium. This latter effect may be important in the therapy of capture myopathy in wild animals as hyperkalaemia may be one of the causes of death in the syndrome.