Page 1072 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

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Figure 24.14 As the horse ages, the teeth become longer and more horizontal

BLOOD TESTS

Blood tests may be taken:

• as part of a routine health check
• to confirm or eliminate a clinical diagnosis

• to provide more information when the cause of a horse’s illness is obscure

• to monitor the horse’s response to treatment

• as part of a pre-purchase examination

• to test for banned substances during competitions

Taking blood samples

Blood is usually obtained from the jugular vein in the horse’s neck (Figure 24.15). Samples

for haematology must be collected when the horse is relaxed and before exercise. This is
because when the horse is excited or exercised the spleen contracts and pushes a reserve pool

of red blood cells into the circulation. The artificially high result could result in a mild
anaemia being missed. Approximately 30% of the total red blood cells are stored in the
spleen of the resting horse.