Among the various biochemical parameters to be monitored, the following four stand out:

• Creatine kinase (CK): marker of muscle damage.

• Lactate: indicator of intensity and fatigue.

• Copper (Cu): indicator of connective health and antioxidant.

• Zinc (Zn): indicator of metabolism, antioxidant agent.

• Function: CK is an enzyme that is released into the bloodstream when muscle cells are damaged.

• Importance: monitoring CK allows for the detection of rhabdomyolysis or subclinical muscle damage before it becomes incapacitating.

• Very high post-exercise CK levels indicate overtraining or overexertion, requiring rest, while stabilized CK levels indicate good adaptation to exercise.

          Horse:     0 – 452 U/L

          Camel:  21 – 522 U/L

          Dog:       52 – 368 U/L

          (Bibliographic reference values)

• Function: product of anaerobic metabolism that accumulates when exercise intensity exceeds aerobic capacity.

• Importance: lactate monitoring shows the actual intensity of the effort and the animal's recovery capacity.

• Allows adjusting training: optimizing workload to improve endurance without causing extreme fatigue.

• Allows performance evaluation: a trained animal produces less lactate at the same speed as an untrained one. 

          Horse:      0.5 – 20.0 mmol/L

          Camel:       2.0 – 3.0 mmol/L

          Dog:            0.5 – 3.0 mmol/L

          (Bibliographic reference values)

• Function: essential mineral component of hundreds of enzymes involved in protein synthesis and carbohydrate metabolism.

• Importance: intense exercise increases the production of free radicals, causing oxidative stress – Zn is key for antioxidant defence.

• Adequate Zn supplementation improves nutrient utilization, intestinal integrity and immune function, which aids muscle recovery.

          Horse:       9.2 – 20.0 µmol/L

          Camel:    10.7 – 18.3 µmol/L

          Dog:            7.7 – 20.0 µmol/L

          (Bibliographic reference values)

• Function: essential for collagen formation, connective tissue integrity (tendons and ligaments) and a component of antioxidant enzymes.

• Importance: adequate Cu levels are crucial for preventing joint and tendon injuries in animals subjected to high impact.

• Like zinc, copper is monitored to ensure that the diet meets the high demands of intense training.

          Horse:       7.9 – 21.0 µmol/L

          Camel:    11.0 – 19.0 µmol/L

          Dog:         15.7 – 18.9 µmol/L

          (Bibliographic reference values)