Equine colic and coagulation disorders

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the coagulation disorders in drought horses suffering from colic. A total of (125) local drought male horse of different ages were investigated, among these animals (100) were suffering colicky sings and (25) clinically normal drought male horses served as control. Results indicated that colicky horses showed sings of pain which manifested by, restlessness, anxiety, sweating, lip curling, flank watching, pawing at the ground, kicking at the belly and rolling, more over body temperature, respiratory and heart rate, capillary refilling time were also increased, petechial hemorrhages were also detected on mucus membranes of the eyes. The statistical analysis appeared significant decrease (p<0.05) in the TRECs, Hb in horses suffering the recurrent type of colic compared with animals suffering the acute, mild type and control normal horses and PCV were significantly higher (p<0.05) in diseased horses than in normal control animals. Data concerning the indices of clotting factors of normal control and colicky horses showed that the platelet count and fibrinogen was lower significantly (p<0.05) in diseased horses than in control normal horses. This count was significantly lower in horses suffering the acute and recurrent type of colic than horses suffering the mild type. The platelet volume, platelet distribution width clotting time, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time values were significantly higher (p<0.05) in diseased horses suffering the acute and recurrent type of colic than in diseased horses suffering the mild type and normal control animals. Results of biochemical changes indicated significant decrease (p<0.05) in total protein and albumen in colicky horses showed the mild and recurrent type of colic where as significant increase (p<0.05) of same values were seen in animals suffering the acute type, further more significant decrease (p<0.05) in calcium values were encountered in horses suffering the acute and recurrent type of clic.