Use of clinical pathology in evaluation of horses with colic.

The research article explores the role of clinical pathology, particularly blood tests, in diagnosing, treating, and evaluating the prognosis of horses with colic.

Prognostication Using Clinical Pathology

• The blood tests noted as useful for prognosis include hematocrit, lactate and urea nitrogen concentrations, pH, anion gap, fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products, antithrombin III activity, prothrombin time, and thrombin time.
• Horses with a poor prognosis generally showed certain indicators including relative polycythemia, extreme lactic acidosis, high anion gap, azotemia, and coagulation irregularities.
• These coagulation abnormalities are indicated by increased fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products, decreased antithrombin III activity, and extended prothrombin and thrombin times.

Using Clinical Pathology to Decide Whether to Operate

• The decision to operate on a horse suffering from colic is usually based on a clinical evaluation. This is supported by certain indicators from the horse’s blood tests including relative polycythemia and hyperglycemia.
• Abnormal peritoneal fluid analysis might also factor in the decision to conduct surgery.

Diagnosing the Primary Cause of Colic

• The diagnosis of the root cause of the colic is largely based on a physical examination, but additional data from peritoneal fluid analysis can be valuable, especially in cases of peritonitis or intestinal ischemia and infarction.
• Peritoneal fluid analysis can give insights into the intestinal health and abnormalities that would help in accurately diagnosing the cause of the colic.

Overall, the research emphasizes the importance of clinical pathology in making informed decisions regarding the treatment and prognosis of horses with colic. It plays a key role in monitoring and understanding the health status of the horse and ensures better management of the condition.