Anaemia

Symptoms

Lack of energy, weakness, poor performance, lack of appetite, dull coat and pale mucous glands. As the condition worsens the horse becomes unco-ordinated and collapses resulting in death if not treated.

Cause

Anaemia occurs as a secondary disease as either a reduction of the number of red blood cells or a reduction in the amount of haemoglobin the red blood cells carry. Either of these mean there is less oxygen circulating around the body which is the cause of the lethargy, as oxygen gives energy to the horse. Acute anaemia may be caused by a large blood loss after and injury or operation. If the horse survives, the bone marrow will produce more red blood cells so that they return to normal levels in around three weeks. Redworm, lice and ticks can cause chronic anaemia if they occur in large numbers. They feed on blood within the horse causing a constant demand on the bone marrow to produce red blood cells, which eventually becomes exhausted. This can be difficult to correct and take a lon period of time. Dietary Deficiencies can also cause anaemia although these are quite rare. Horses in strenuous exercise or being fed bad quality forage may be more suceptable to it.

Treatment

If the primary cause is corrected then this will help the anaemia. If the horse is injured then correct care needs to be taken in its recovery to ensure full health is regained. Anthelmintic drugs can be given to reduce the parasite burden within the horse, although a vet should be consulted as there may be extensive internal damage if the parasite burden was high. A training programme which does not exceed the horses capabilities should be followed to prevent any illness or accidents occuring, although if anaemia does occur the horse should be allowed complete rest to enable him to recover. The deficiency in the diet needs to be identified before it can be treated. Usually the nutrients a horse needs are present in its diet unless bad forage is fed, when a reduction in folic acid which plays an essential part in the production of blood cells is found. Better quality forage should be fed, and folic acid can be added as a supplement. Alfalfa and silage are also rich in folic acid.