Acidosis
Acidosis is a disturbance of the acid-base balance (over-acidification) that causes a drop in blood pH and impairs metabolism. In horses, it manifests, for example, in tension and inflammation of the muscles, joints or lungs, in hoof problems, and can play a role in the development of sweet itch.
Possible causes include a lack of roughage, too rapid transition to pasture, chronic intestinal fermentation, feeding poor-quality silage, excessive amounts of concentrate feed (e.g. in racehorses), stress, prolonged diarrhoea and dehydration, local oxygen deficiency in the muscle, e.g. during high performance, and nutrient deficiencies.
Acids and bases neutralise one another. As first aid for over-acidification, administering alkaline salts is therefore helpful. In addition, the entire ration should be reviewed and corrected if necessary.