Low Platelet Counts and Sick Foals: An Unlucky Combination

Researchers found an overall decreased survival rate in sick foals with thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet counts).
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If only predicting survival in sick foals were as easy as shaking the Magic 8 Ball for an answer. Researchers have evaluated various measures to help owners make difficult decisions when caring for sick foals, including white blood cell counts, fibrinogen levels, and glucose and lactate concentrations, among others, but none have been as effective as practitioners would like. Most recently, a Colorado State University (CSU) team investigated the impact of platelet counts on foal survival.

Elsbeth Swain, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of CSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine & Biological Sciences, presented her research data at the 2016 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held Dec. 3-7 in Orlando, Florida.

Swain explained that many hospitalized foals have low platelet counts, referred to as thrombocytopenia, associated with their illnesses. When this occurs, the foal’s blood doesn’t clot normally. This condition’s impact on overall survival, however, has historically been unclear.

Foals can show signs of thrombocytopenia and abnormal clotting ability, shown in both images

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Written by:

Stacey Oke, MSc, DVM, is a practicing veterinarian and freelance medical writer and editor. She is interested in both large and small animals, as well as complementary and alternative medicine. Since 2005, she’s worked as a research consultant for nutritional supplement companies, assisted physicians and veterinarians in publishing research articles and textbooks, and written for a number of educational magazines and websites.

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