It’s in the blood

Whether animal or human, blood is essential. It’s an ingenious transport system, transferring oxygen from the lungs to all the organs and tissues in the body. Blood also moves nutrients, hormones and waste products around your horse’s body, where they can be absorbed or expelled, transports white blood cells and antibodies to fight infection and helps to control your horse’s temperature.

Blood tests are an important diagnostic tool because the blood can show how well certain organs are working and reveal early signs of some diseases.

What is blood made from?

Blood is made up of red blood cells, which give the blood its rich colour, white blood cells, platelets and plasma.

Red blood cells contain haemoglobin which enables cells to distribute oxygen around the body and remove carbon dioxide. Red blood cells are made in the horse’s bone marrow and released into the bloodstream. They are also stored in the spleen.

White blood cells are a part of the immune system and have the primary job of fighting infection. They do this in various ways such as by causing inflammation, generating antibodies and attacking viruses and germs.

Platelets have the sole role of forming clots to stem bleeding and are activated when there is an injury.

Plasma is largely water but also contains substances such as proteins, hormones, antibodies, enzymes, glucose, fat particles and salts. When a blood sample is taken the cells and certain plasma proteins clump together into a clot. The remaining fluid is called serum.

What can blood tests reveal?

Blood samples are very useful for monitoring health and detecting