HEMATOLOGICAL-CHANGES OBSERVED IN ANDALUSIAN HORSES WITH LAMINITIS

Clinical blood chemistry was studied on 13 Andalusian horses with lami nitis. Ten healthy horses were used as controls. Blood samples were ta ken within the first 24 hr after the onset of the disease in Obel grad e 3 before any type of treatment was given. No significant differences were observed in the number of red blood cells and white blood cells between Andalusian horses affected by laminitis and healthy animals. S ignificant decrease in the number of neutrophils and increased number of lymphocytes were noted. A significant increase in the enzymatic act ivity of CPK, LDH and AST in these animals strongly suggested the pres ence of muscular and hepatic disorders. The K ion increased, meeting w ith a slight acidosis. There was also an increase of glucose and total proteins. This fact may be a result of an excessive intake of carbohy drates (which could cause hyperglycaemia) and a diminution of the plas ma volume, as a consequence of fluid movement as well as the sweating process (which could cause protein haemoconcentration).