Effects of intravenous administration of formaldehyde on platelet and coagulation variables in healthy horses

Objectives-To assess safety and determine effects of IV administration of f ormaldehyde on hemostatic variables in healthy horses. Animals-7 healthy adult horses. Procedure-Clinical signs and results of CBC, serum biochemical analyses, an d coagulation testing including template bleeding time (TBT) and activated clotting lime (ACT) were compared in horses given a dose of 0.37% formaldeh yde or lactated Ringer's solution (LRS), IV, in a 2-way crossover design. I n a subsequent experiment, horses received an infusion of 0.74% formaldehyd e or LRS. In another experiment, horses were treated with aspirin to impair platelet responses prior to infusion of formaldehyde or LRS. Results-Significant differences were not detected in any variable measured between horses when given formaldehyde or any other treatment. Infusion of higher doses of formaldehyde resulted in adverse effects including muscle f asciculations, tachycardia, tachypnea, serous ocular and nasal discharge, a gitation, and restlessness. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Intravenous Infusion of formaldehyde at doses that do not induce adverse reactions did not have a detectable effect on measured hemostatic variables in healthy horses.