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Blood Tests Your horse may have a blood sample taken for a number of reasons, including illness, monitoring response to treatment and general health or fitness checks. Blood can be tested for many different substances. This guide aims to explain what things are being measured and what abnormal results may mean. Reference ranges are often supplied, indicating the normal values of measurement for a horse. These values are often for the average horse so naturally some horses will fall outside these brackets without any significance. Results should all be interpreted with reference to the other results as many of the things measured have direct effects on one another.

Red Blood Cells A number of measurements can be made with regard to red blood cells (erythrocytes) in the horse

White Blood Cell Count (WCC) This is the total number of white blood cells in the blood. Increases in the WCC (leukocytosis) are most commonly a result of bacterial or viral infection the white blood cells with the greatest responsibility for managing the immune system.

Platelets Platelets have a number of important functions such as blood clotting and the release of various beneficial chemicals at the site of injuries.

Biochemical Tests Substances that are measured in a sample of your horse's blood may indicate the function of specific organs or metabolic pathways. Urea Urea is produced in the liver and excreted by the kidneys. Elevated levels may signify kidney disease but may also occur with dehydration or fasting.

Electrolytes Calcium In the blood the majority of this electrolyte is bound to albumin, so levels should be assessed with reference to albumin levels. Increased calcium levels may be seen in cases of kidney disease, some cancers and vitamin D poisoning. Low levels may be due to liver disease, inadequate intake or late pregnancy/lactation. Chloride This electrolyte is closely associated to sodium, and will usually mirror changes in this. Low chloride levels are commonly seen in horses following excessive sweating. Phosphate Low phosphate may be seen in horses with kidney disease or with low dietary phosphate intake. Low phosphate can be a normal finding in horses where the blood sample has been taken immediately after exercise. Potassium Very little of the body's potassium is in the blood, so changes in the blood potassium levels may not correlate with total body potassium. Low levels are due to potassium loss. This can be through intestine or kidney disease or through sweating. High levels may be an incidental finding when red blood cells have broken down (haemolysed) in the sample prior to testing or may be due to muscle damage. Sodium Low levels commonly indicate loss through excessive sweating, or through kidney or intestinal disease. Low levels may also be found in young foals with bladder damage. Increased sodium levels are usually a sign of dehydration.

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Overview of " Reading and analysing blood chemistry measures" DR. Des Leadon.

The following programme will be carried out over three days of lectures and practical handling and interpretation of samples and results. If there is access to laboratory then practical sessions will include processing samples.

Day 1:

Morning session:

Blood collection Sample handing Processing and Quality Control The resting haemogram Normal Ranges and Sequential Sampling

Afternoon:

Practical demonstration on handling and processing samples.

Day 2:

Morning session: Factors affecting the resting Haemogram Exercise Feeding Overtraining The leucogram Afternoon session:

Clinical Biochemistry.

Individual case studies.

Questions and discussion.

Day 3:

Morning session:

Excitement and Exercise intensity Overtraining Poor Performance and Clinical and Sub Clinical Diseases Organ investigations Afternoon session:

Specific Diseases Endocrinology Assessment of responses to treatments. Exercise and Biochemistry . Training related Effects.

Questions and discussion

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:BRIEF OUTLINE CV D.P. Leadon MA, MVB, MSc, FRCVS, DipECEIM

European College & RCVS registered Consultant / Specialist in Equine Medicine.

Clinical Pathology Unit, Irish Equine Centre, Johnstown, Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Desmond Patrick Leadon FRCVS, Des has worked in equine practice in Ireland, England,

Australia and Spain. He has provided consultation services in Russia, China, Italy, France and

many other countries and has been involved in equine clinical research for over 30 years.

es graduated as a veterinarian from Trinity College Dublin in 1975. He returned there and was

awarded his Master of Science degree by thesis. He subsequently joined the world famous

equine specialist practice of Rossdale and Partners in Newmarket and was awarded the degree

of Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, London, by thesis, in 1982.

He returned to Ireland to equine practice in Co. Meath before joining the then newly

established Irish Equine

Centre in 1984. The Irish Equine Centre is Irelands independent equine diagnostic and research

laboratory.

Des is Head of Clinical Pathology at the Centre and a member of its Management Committee.

He is an external lecturer for the Equine Science course at the University of Limerick and is an

Honorary Faculty Member of the Veterinary Sciences School at University College Dublin.

He is both a European College and Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Registered Consultant

/ Specialist in Equine Medicine.

He has served as President of both the British Equine Veterinary Association (1993-1994) and

the World Equine Veterinary Association (2001-2006). He continues to serve the Past Presidents

Advisory Committee of the World Equine Veterinary Association (2006 to date). He is a Founding

Diplomate and former Vice-President of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine (2002

to 2008). He served an initial term as the International Director of the American Association of

Equine Practitioners (2009 to 2011) and was then invited to serve a second term (2011 to 2012).

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He has published 74 reports in the equine scientific literature, in text books and in lay

publications and has made more than 200 presentations at national and international equine

scientific meetings.

His special interest areas include the problems inherent in transporting horses long distances

by air, the spread of infectious disease and Rhodococcus equi.

He has recieved research funding grants from organisations that include the International

League for the Protection of Horses, The International Equestrian Federation, The Hong Kong

Jockey Club and Irelands National Development Plan, Department of Agriculture and the Irish

Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

Des is a pre-race inspector for the International Racing Bureau (for the Hong Kong

International Races) and acts as an Advisor and as an Arbiter in insurance case disputes for

Lloyds Underwriters.

He is Veterinary Advisor to the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association (ITBA), Chairman of

the Veterinary Advisory Committee of the European Throughbred Breeders Association

(EFTBA) and Chairman of the Veterinary Advisory Committee of the International

Thoroughbred Breeders Federation (ITBF).

He was appointed to both the Equine Liaison Group of the Department of Agriculture and the

Veterinary Medicines Committee of the Irish Medicines Board in January 2011.

Des breeds thoroughbred racehorses near Punchestown in County Kildare and was presented

with the Outstanding Contribution to the Thoroughbred Industry Award by the Irish

Thoroughbred Breeders Association in January 2014.

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