Horses on EPO

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Jean
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Horses on EPO

Postby Jean » Sun Sep 12, 2010 5:15 am

What happens to a horse after it has been on EPO? If someone ends up with it for a riding horse etc is there fallout. Several standardbred trainers have been caught but I haven't heard of any positives in the thoroughbred world. Has anything been published on this?
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TJ
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Re: Horses on EPO

Postby TJ » Sun Sep 12, 2010 5:38 am

Jean wrote:What happens to a horse after it has been on EPO? If someone ends up with it for a riding horse etc is there fallout. Several standardbred trainers have been caught but I haven't heard of any positives in the thoroughbred world. Has anything been published on this?


Hi Jean,
One of the most serious consequences to the horse when using EPO (epogen, procrit) is the blood thickens dangerously full of red blood cells. Therefore making the heart work faster, also creating possible clots and slow downs in smaller blood vessels. It also makes it that much harder for the blood to get to the feet. It's like the circulatory system is pushing sludge through the vessels instead of normal healthy blood. A blood test would be a good thing to try on a horse you fear was given EPO....Check the hematocrit level (PCV...packed cell volume).....if it is too high (some have been as high as 70) talk to the vet about possible blood thinners. If it is within range, don't worry about it anymore. TJ
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Jean
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Postby Jean » Mon Sep 13, 2010 5:09 am

Thanks! That is what I was looking for!
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TJ
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Postby TJ » Mon Sep 13, 2010 7:31 am

Jean wrote:Thanks! That is what I was looking for!


Hi Jean,
You're welcome...to be on the safe side a blood enzymes test wouldn't hurt. That can give an indication as to breakdown of heart or liver tissue. Since the heart does get stressed when the blood is super thick. TJ
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oliverstoned
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Postby oliverstoned » Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:04 pm

Hey TJ do you think it may be a factor in some of these cases of when a racehorse just drops dead that is sometimes reported to be a heart attack?
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TJ
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Postby TJ » Tue Sep 14, 2010 4:08 am

oliverstoned wrote:Hey TJ do you think it may be a factor in some of these cases of when a racehorse just drops dead that is sometimes reported to be a heart attack?


Hi Oliver,
It's always crossed my mind too.....even lasix will thicken the blood ....but to much less of an extent, mainly because there isn't an increase in RBC's. If lasix is given when EPO is, then it really compounds the sludge. One thing that helps is that the RBC's in horses are actually smaller than in man......do the same thing to man and he's bound to keel over with a heart attack if he's put under a lot of pressure. TJ
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