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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract / Clinical pathology in the racing horse: the role of clinical...
The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice2008; 24(2); 405-vii; doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2008.03.001

Clinical pathology in the racing horse: the role of clinical pathology in assessing fitness and performance in the racehorse.

Abstract: Clinical pathology is frequently used in racehorses to screen for "fitness" to race and to screen for disease that may affect performance. The role of clinical pathology in exercise testing of racehorses is important, especially in the area of blood lactate responses to exercise. This article discusses the use of resting and dynamic clinical pathology in the racehorse, especially in respect to investigation of the state of training (or fitness) and detection of subclinical performance-limiting disease.
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Publication Date: 2008-07-26 PubMed ID: 18652962DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2008.03.001Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article elucidates about the vital role clinical pathology plays in evaluating the fitness and disease detection in racehorses, particularly assessing the blood lactate responses to exercise.

Role of Clinical Pathology in Racehorse Fitness and Performance

  • The researchers have explored the significant role clinical pathology has in maintaining racehorse health and performance. Clinical pathology involves studying the cause and effect of disease through laboratory testing of bodily fluids and tissues.
  • The study emphasizes its frequent use in racehorses to screen for “fitness” to race, and disease screening that could affect performance. This includes routine blood tests, which can identify any potential health problems and evaluate the horse’s overall health and fitness levels.
  • This information can be valuable in informing training practices and guiding decisions on whether a horse is fit to race.

Exercise Testing and Blood Lactate Responses

  • Exercise testing, specifically examining the blood lactate responses to exercise, is one crucial aspect discussed in this study. Lactate production and removal rates can be altered in horses due to exercise, which can have significant effects on a horse’s performance.
  • The researchers highlight the importance of understanding the changes in the horse’s lactate responses to exercise, as this can provide insight into the horse’s ability to withstand strenuous exercises and endurance.

Evaluation of Training and Disease Detection

  • The paper also discusses the use of clinical pathology in investigating a horse’s state of training (fitness) and detection of any subclinical performance-limiting disease. This process is vital to ensure that the horses are trained to their respective capacities and are not showing symptoms of diseases that might lead to poor race performance.
  • Such information aids in detecting any underlying diseases at an early stage, leading to more accurate diagnosis and treatment. It also allows for adjustments in a horse’s training to reduce the likelihood of injury and to promote peak performance.

Cite This Article

APA
McGowan C. (2008). Clinical pathology in the racing horse: the role of clinical pathology in assessing fitness and performance in the racehorse. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 24(2), 405-vii. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cveq.2008.03.001

Publication

The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice
ISSN: 1558-4224
NlmUniqueID: 8511904
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 24
Issue: 2
Pages: 405-vii

Researcher Affiliations

McGowan, Catherine
  • Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, PO Box 57, Helsinki 00014, Finland. catherine.mcgowan@helsinki.fi

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Chemical Analysis / veterinary
  • Breeding
  • Exercise Test / veterinary
  • Hematocrit / veterinary
  • Horses / blood
  • Horses / injuries
  • Horses / physiology
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
  • Physical Endurance / physiology
  • Running / physiology
  • Sports

Citations

This article has been cited 13 times.
  1. Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Stancari G, Conturba B, Bozzola C, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. Associations between Medical Disorders and Racing Outcomes in Poorly Performing Standardbred Trotter Racehorses: A Retrospective Study.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 9;13(16).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13162569pubmed: 37627359google scholar: lookup
  2. Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Conturba B, Stancari G, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. Medical causes of poor performance and their associations with fitness in Standardbred racehorses.. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Jul-Aug;37(4):1514-1527.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.16734pubmed: 37148147google scholar: lookup
  3. Satué K, Miguel-Pastor L, Chicharro D, Gardón JC. Hepatic Enzyme Profile in Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 29;12(7).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12070861pubmed: 35405850google scholar: lookup
  4. Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Stancari G, Alberti E, Conturba B, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. Associations between Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) and Fitness Parameters Measured by Incremental Treadmill Test in Standardbred Racehorses.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 12;12(4).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12040449pubmed: 35203157google scholar: lookup
  5. Escalera-Valente F, Alonso ME, Lomillos-Pérez JM, Gaudioso-Lacasa VR, Alonso AJ, González-Montaña JR. Blood Biochemical Variables Found in Lidia Cattle after Intense Exercise.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 30;11(10).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11102866pubmed: 34679884google scholar: lookup
  6. Maśko M, Domino M, Jasiński T, Witkowska-Piłaszewicz O. The Physical Activity-Dependent Hematological and Biochemical Changes in School Horses in Comparison to Blood Profiles in Endurance and Race Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Apr 14;11(4).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11041128pubmed: 33920044google scholar: lookup
  7. Witkowska-Piłaszewicz O, Maśko M, Domino M, Winnicka A. Infrared Thermography Correlates with Lactate Concentration in Blood during Race Training in Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 9;10(11).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10112072pubmed: 33182281google scholar: lookup
  8. Cappelli K, Amadori M, Mecocci S, Miglio A, Antognoni MT, Razzuoli E. Immune Response in Young Thoroughbred Racehorses under Training.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Oct 5;10(10).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10101809pubmed: 33027949google scholar: lookup
  9. Miglio A, Cappelli K, Capomaccio S, Mecocci S, Silvestrelli M, Antognoni MT. Metabolic and Biomolecular Changes Induced by Incremental Long-Term Training in Young Thoroughbred Racehorses during First Workout Season.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Feb 18;10(2).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10020317pubmed: 32085444google scholar: lookup
  10. DeNotta SL, Divers TJ. Clinical Pathology in the Adult Sick Horse: The Gastrointestinal System and Liver.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2020 Apr;36(1):105-120.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2019.11.004pubmed: 31982231google scholar: lookup
  11. Witkowska-Piłaszewicz O, Bąska P, Czopowicz M, Żmigrodzka M, Szczepaniak J, Szarska E, Winnicka A, Cywińska A. Changes in Serum Amyloid A (SAA) Concentration in Arabian Endurance Horses During First Training Season.. Animals (Basel) 2019 Jun 8;9(6).
    doi: 10.3390/ani9060330pubmed: 31181740google scholar: lookup
  12. Izzati MRNZ, Noraniza MA, Adamu L, Rasedee A. Validity of an established metabolic disorder index as a predictor for metabolic eliminations in endurance horses.. Int J Vet Sci Med 2018 Dec;6(2):227-232.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ijvsm.2018.08.002pubmed: 30564600google scholar: lookup
  13. Gunther-Harrington CT, Arthur R, Estell K, Martinez Lopez B, Sinnott A, Ontiveros E, Varga A, Stern JA. Prospective pre- and post-race evaluation of biochemical, electrophysiologic, and echocardiographic indices in 30 racing thoroughbred horses that received furosemide.. BMC Vet Res 2018 Jan 18;14(1):18.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1336-0pubmed: 29347921google scholar: lookup
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