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  Discussion on Very Low Iron from Blood Results
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Member:
rtrotter

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 17, 2012 - 5:18 pm:

My 7 year old race mare has been racing very well since the middle of December 2011. Her last 6 starts she had 2 wins, 1 second and 2 4th place finishes and had not missed a check in her last 14 starts prior to 2 weeks ago.

2 weeks ago(coming off a win the previous week) She did not race up to expectations, but we chalked it up to her having worn herself out in the lasix barn, charging the door at every horse that passed her and getting all sorts of excited.Never a good set of circumstances for her anyway and we usually try to keep her as calm as possible.

This week, there were some other issues, including her getting out of her paddock.

Anyway, she did not race well again this week. I had her scoped, she scoped clean. I pulled blood, the next day, she had been out in the field for an hour, was not running around and not getting excited.

Most of the blood results came back right smack in the middle of the acceptable range.

RBS was a little low it was 7.15 (lab range was 7.5-9.8).
MCH was 19 (Lab range was 14-18).

Neutrophils were 75 (lab values were 40-65)
Lymphocytes were 21 (lab values were 15-45)

Potassium was 4.70 (lab range was 3.3-4.5)

Serum Iron was 62.9 (lab range was 111-250)

The vet was very concerned about this number, saying she had never seen a serum iron number so low and said she was anemic.

Unsaturated Iron Binding Capacity was 250(lab range was 100-310)

Total Iron Binding Capacity = 312.9( with the lab range of 212-420) so her number fell right into the middle of this range as well.

I read the article, this mare does not seem to fit the profile for anemia. Other than the very low iron, all her other values seem normal.

Based on the above information, if this was your horse what would you do. She is on vitamins, electrolytes, good quality feed, grass hay and fresh water 2 X's daily) and is outside every night from 6pm until 5 am.

I would appreciate any advice.

Thank you
Rachelle
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Apr 19, 2012 - 8:35 pm:

Hello Rachelle,
I would take a second sample following exercise so that you could get a true reading of the RBC mass and iron (much of which is in those RBC's). This will also help verify the iron level is correct. It seems odd that Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin would be increased (hyperchromic anemia) with a low serum iron and is not consistent with a iron deficient anemia. I would also be interested in the Mean Corpuscular Volume.

If the above findings are double checked I would consider consulting an equine laboratory pathologist as to what might be causing such a change as right of the top of my head the findings are a bit contradictory.
DrO
Member:
rtrotter

Posted on Thursday, Apr 19, 2012 - 10:17 pm:

Hi Dr.O,
MCV is 47.8 (lab values 34-58);

I have had 2 vets look at the results. Both said she needs blood shots. We have taken a different route because 1) She does not like shots and 2) I do not like giving them. So, we are orally dosing her with 5 cc of pig iron every other day(on the advice of a vet). She is going to train lightly on Sunday and I am going to take her blood again on Tuesday after she jogs. We upped her regular vitamins, as well, since they have a lot of B-vitamins for her liver.

We shall see what the next blood results show.

and I also agree with you, I find these results strange.

Thank you
Rachelle
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