Hemostatic and hematological profiles of horses with natural occurrence large colon impaction and medically treated

Abstract

Hemostatic alterations are common abnormalities in horses with acute abdomen in critical condition. However, there are few studies regarding hemostatic alterations in horses with acute abdomen and medically treated. This study aimed to evaluate the hemostatic and hematological profiles of horses with large colon impaction of natural occurrence and medically treated. For this, ten horses with large colon impaction formed the sick group (SG), and these animals were evaluated at the presentation (T0) and every 24 h for 3 days (T24, T48, and T72). The control group (CG) was composed of ten healthy horses evaluated at the same moments of SG horses (T0–T72). Erythrocyte, leukocyte and platelet parameters, total plasma protein (TPP), fibrinogen, prothrombin time (PT), and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were analyzed. Significant changes have been found in hemoglobin, RDW, leukocytes total, segmented neutrophils, monocytes, fibrinogen, PT, and APTT parameters. We can conclude that erythrogram and TPP concentration allowed to infer that animals did not have anemia or dehydration; white blood cell alterations were consistent to stress due to the obstruction, pain, and inflammatory process at the site of obstruction. Platelet count showed no abnormalities and fibrinogen level was higher at the initial moments. PT and APTT were altered until 48 h of admission.