Authors : Lawan Adamu, Noraniza , Rasedee Abdullah and Bashir Ahmad
Abstract: Metabolic crisis is the complex and detrimental physiological changes observed in eliminated endurance horses during endurance events. Therefore, this study aims to appraise the alterations in biochemical, hematological and physical parameters of endurance horses with metabolic crisis. About 174 endurance horses between the ages of 6-20 years were examined to be clinically healthy pre-ride and 115 were eliminated post-race as a result of metabolic crisis. Blood sample was collected and physical examinations were conducted at pre and post ride. The blood sample was analyzed for biochemical and hematological parameters. The parameters were assessed using one-way analysis of variance. Metabolic crisis leads to significant increases in heart rate (p<0.0001), capillary refill time (p<0.005) and significant decrease in gut motility (0.006). There were significant increases in RBC, Hb and PCV at (p<0.0001). There were also significant increases in WBC (p<0.0002), band neutrophil (p<0.012), segmented neutrophil (p<0.0001) and monocytes (p<0.011). Significant decreases were seen in sodium (p<0.0196) and chloride (p<0.0001). Significant increases were also assessed in plasma protein (p<0.0001), albumin (p<0.0001), lactate (p<0.0001), creatine kinase (p<0.0033), uric acid (p<0.0017), gamma glutamyl transferase (p<0.0472), urea (p<0.0014), triglyceride (p<0.0041), total protein (p<0.0001), icterus index and bilirubin (p<0.0024). Thus, these changes could be indicative of metabolic crisis and poor performance in endurance horses.
Lawan Adamu, Noraniza , Rasedee Abdullah and Bashir Ahmad, 2012. Alterations in Biochemical, Hematological and Physical Parameters in Endurance Horses with Metabolic Crisis. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 11: 4108-4114.