Abstract

Objective-To investigate the effects of heparin administration on urine protein excretion during the developmental stages of experimentally induced laminitis in horses Animals-13 horses Procedures-Horses received unfractionated heparin (80 U/kg SC q 8 h n = 7) or no treatment (control group 6) beginning 3 days prior to induction of laminitis All horses were given 3 oligofructose loading doses (1 g/kg each) at 24-hour intervals and a laminitis induction dose (10 g of oligofructose/kg) 24 hours following the final loading dose (designated as 0 hours) via nasogastric tube Serum glucose and insulin concentrations were measured before administration of the first loading dose (baseline) and at 0 and 24 hours urine protein-to-creatinine (UP C) ratio was determined at 0 hours and every 4 hours thereafter Lameness was evaluated every 6 hours and horses were euthanized when Obel grade 2 lameness was observed Results-Mean +/- SD time until euthanasia did not differ significantly between the heparin-treated (28 9 +/- 6 5 hours) and control (29 0 +/- 6 9 hours) horses The UP C ratio was significantly increased from baseline at 20 to 28 hours after induction of laminitis (ie 4 +/- 4 hours before lameness was evident) in control horses but did not change significantly from baseline in heparin treated horses Serum glucose or insulin concentration did not change significantly from baseline in either group Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Urine protein excretion increased during the developmental stages of carbohydrate-induced laminitis in horses administration of heparin prevented that increase but did not delay onset or decrease severity of lameness (Am J Vet Res 2010 71 1462-1467)