Effect of standard clinical procedures on blood glucose concentration in clinically healthy horses.

The research article studies the effect of clinical procedures, such as sedation and various examinations, on blood glucose concentration in healthy horses. The findings suggest that clinical procedures do increase blood glucose levels, but they return to normal within an hour after completion of the procedures.

Objective and Methods of the Study

• The aim of this research was to determine the impact of standard clinical procedures on the blood glucose concentrations of healthy horses. This was in order to understand more about the fluctuations of glucose with stress in this context.
• The study was experimental in nature and involved seven healthy, hospital-owned research horses. Blood samples were taken from four horses which either underwent a control sedation trial or were involved in three student-led workshops (prepurchase examination, oral examination, and rectal examination).
• Blood samples were taken every 15 minutes and immediate glucose concentrations within the whole blood were measured using a previously validated and reliable handheld glucometer. This continued until glucose levels normalized after the conclusion of workshops.
• Fasting was observed during the sampling periods with no food being provided to the horses.

Results of the Study

• The study found that all measured blood glucose concentrations remained within the standard reference interval.
• Significantly, an increase in blood glucose was observed during the sedation and oral workshop. Conversely, during the prepurchase examination, blood glucose levels decreased before physical exertion or exercise.
• The peak glucose concentration values were comparable between the sedation trial and both the oral and rectal workshops, and these differences were not statistically significant.
• More importantly, it was noted that the glucose measurements returned to baseline approximately one hour after the completion of the distinct workshops.

Conclusions Drawn from the Study

• The study concluded that there was no significant impact of different clinical procedures on the blood glucose concentration beyond the effects of sedation.
• Furthermore, to effectively measure blood glucose concentration without the influence of the procedures, it is advised to wait about an hour after the completion of any procedure.