This message is from: Steven A White <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
On Wed, 27 Jan 1999 08:15:11 -0800 (PST) Mary Thurman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >We had an experience last spring with one of our three-year-old >geldings that the vet thought was a case of tying up. So he ran the >tests - urine, blood, etc. - and came up with a blank. Mary, What type of blood tests did the veterinarian run and in what time frame from the tying up episode. The best indicator that I have found for this condition is a blood test called CPK. This is a muscle enzyme that elevates in the blood when there is a condition like tying up or bad muscle injury. However, it doesn't elevate right away. So if you draw the blood at the time of treatment it will probably come back normal. Also, it drops off quickly, so if you wait too long to sample then it will also look normal. When I suspect a horse is tying up, I usually treat for it and then come back the following morning to draw the blood to confirm it. Also, this tells me how severe the case is. If the values are relatively low, then no further treatment is usually needed. If the values are very elevated then further treatment is warranted as well as further monitoring to prevent complications such as kidney damage. -Steve Steve & Amy White Waterloo, NE, USA
