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The Diagnosis of Anemia in Horses
  by Robert N. Oglesby DVM

Introduction

Introduction » Equine Red Blood Cell Physiology » Clinical Signs » Diagnosis » Emergency Treatment » More Info 

Red blood cells are essential for carrying oxygen to the cells of our horses bodies. For optimum health and performance the mass of red blood cells must be also optimized. We measure red blood cell mass by taking a whole blood sample placing a small amount in a long thin tube and centrifuging it until all the cells are squeezed to one side. Then the column of red blood cells is compared to the total column of cells and fluid. The ratio of cell column over the total column is called the packed cell volume (PCV) or hematocrit (Hct).

Anemia is a frequently diagnosed disease in horses however there are some unique features of equine physiology that complicate the accurate diagnosis of anemia. Further complicating correct diagnosis is that there are significant differences in the normal hematocrit of different breeds of horses. The result is anemia is over diagnosed, even by equine veterinarians. Caution should be applied to the diagnosis of anemia in an otherwise healthy horse.

Besides anemia as a cause of serious of decreased performance, there are serious and life threatening diseases where anemia is the main cause of disease symptoms. This article discusses the clinical signs, accurate diagnosis of anemia, and the causes in horses. Links are provided to articles on the specific causes where further treatment is discussed.
      ~Word Count: 1585 words (The average magazine page contains about 600 words);
      ~Last Updated: September 08, 2009;

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Discussions on The Diagnosis of Anemia
  Titles Subtopics Posts Updated
iconIs he borderline anemic?Jun 7, 09
iconBlood Loss Anemia post colic episodeMay 29, 09
iconBlood groupAug 12, 08
iconPancytopeniaJun 6, 08
iconStill need Iron Supplement?May 20, 08
iconUnderstanding bloodwork Dec 11, 07
iconResearch Summary: Blood Transfusions CasesSep 7, 07
iconAnother anemic horseJun 13, 07
iconAnemia & high white blood cell countMar 28, 06
iconIron overload?/20 Jan 18, 06
iconUpdate to The Diagnosis of Anemia in Horses Oct 29, 04
iconCould Acetazolamide cause Anemia?Jun 23, 04
iconAnemia in an old ponyMar 11, 04
iconAnemia and acorns?Oct 22, 01
iconAnemia? I need your opinion on blood counts12 Sep 24, 02
iconWhat can possibly be causing this anemia??11 Jul 23, 01
iconFor 16 Months I'm Told My Filly Has AnemiaJan 24, 00
iconBlood TestFeb 4, 00
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