Haematological and serum biochemical values in Norwegian sled dogs before and after competing in a 600 km race
Abstract Background Long-distance racing is known to cause alterations in haematological and serum biochemical parameters in sled dogs. Given that finishing status reflects the physical condition in dogs completing a race, such variations will mainly be the result of physiological adaption achieved...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-04-01
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| Series: | Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13028-019-0453-5 |
| _version_ | 1818155027495124992 |
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| author | Tuva Holt Jahr Marte Ekeland Fergestad Ola Brynildsrud Hege Brun-Hansen Ellen Skancke |
| author_facet | Tuva Holt Jahr Marte Ekeland Fergestad Ola Brynildsrud Hege Brun-Hansen Ellen Skancke |
| author_sort | Tuva Holt Jahr |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Long-distance racing is known to cause alterations in haematological and serum biochemical parameters in sled dogs. Given that finishing status reflects the physical condition in dogs completing a race, such variations will mainly be the result of physiological adaption achieved during endurance exercise. However, changes observed in withdrawn dogs may indicate pathological conditions. The aim of this study was to reveal changes in haematological and serum biochemical values in sled dogs participating in a long-distance race, with emphasis on the withdrawn dogs. Sixty-five sled dogs participated in a clinical prospective cohort study: 46 dogs competed in the 600 km race (25 finishing and 21 withdrawn dogs), and 19 dogs served as controls. Blood sampling was performed early in the training season and after the race. Results When compared to control dogs, both withdrawn and finishing dogs showed significant increases in neutrophil count, C-reactive protein, blood urea nitrogen and sodium/potassium ratio. Significant decreases were found in erythrocytes and eosinophil cell count, and in haematocrit, haemoglobin, total protein, albumin, globulin, creatinine, potassium and calcium levels. Finishing dogs presented significant increases in white blood cells, large unstained cells, monocyte count and cortisol level compared to control dogs. In contrast, withdrawn dogs had significant elevations in alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activity, as well as parameters associated with muscle metabolism, such as aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase and phosphorus concentration. Conclusions Competing sled dogs experienced minor changes in blood parameters in general, mainly revealing the same pattern among withdrawals and finishers. This might indicate that numerous changes simply reflect physiological adaption due to endurance exercise. However, the serum concentration of muscle enzymes was significantly increased only in the withdrawals, and were well above reference ranges. This reflects muscle degradation, which could be the main cause of performance failure in some of the withdrawals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T14:35:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aef764bb41f247d48b14791f8bd0ebbf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1751-0147 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T14:35:52Z |
| publishDate | 2019-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica |
| spelling | doaj.art-aef764bb41f247d48b14791f8bd0ebbf2022-12-22T01:02:12ZengBMCActa Veterinaria Scandinavica1751-01472019-04-016111910.1186/s13028-019-0453-5Haematological and serum biochemical values in Norwegian sled dogs before and after competing in a 600 km raceTuva Holt Jahr0Marte Ekeland Fergestad1Ola Brynildsrud2Hege Brun-Hansen3Ellen Skancke4Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life SciencesDepartment of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life SciencesDepartment of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Modelling, Norwegian Institute of Public HealthDepartment of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life SciencesDepartment of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life SciencesAbstract Background Long-distance racing is known to cause alterations in haematological and serum biochemical parameters in sled dogs. Given that finishing status reflects the physical condition in dogs completing a race, such variations will mainly be the result of physiological adaption achieved during endurance exercise. However, changes observed in withdrawn dogs may indicate pathological conditions. The aim of this study was to reveal changes in haematological and serum biochemical values in sled dogs participating in a long-distance race, with emphasis on the withdrawn dogs. Sixty-five sled dogs participated in a clinical prospective cohort study: 46 dogs competed in the 600 km race (25 finishing and 21 withdrawn dogs), and 19 dogs served as controls. Blood sampling was performed early in the training season and after the race. Results When compared to control dogs, both withdrawn and finishing dogs showed significant increases in neutrophil count, C-reactive protein, blood urea nitrogen and sodium/potassium ratio. Significant decreases were found in erythrocytes and eosinophil cell count, and in haematocrit, haemoglobin, total protein, albumin, globulin, creatinine, potassium and calcium levels. Finishing dogs presented significant increases in white blood cells, large unstained cells, monocyte count and cortisol level compared to control dogs. In contrast, withdrawn dogs had significant elevations in alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activity, as well as parameters associated with muscle metabolism, such as aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase and phosphorus concentration. Conclusions Competing sled dogs experienced minor changes in blood parameters in general, mainly revealing the same pattern among withdrawals and finishers. This might indicate that numerous changes simply reflect physiological adaption due to endurance exercise. However, the serum concentration of muscle enzymes was significantly increased only in the withdrawals, and were well above reference ranges. This reflects muscle degradation, which could be the main cause of performance failure in some of the withdrawals.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13028-019-0453-5BiochemistryHaematologyLong distance raceMuscle enzymesSled dog |
| spellingShingle | Tuva Holt Jahr Marte Ekeland Fergestad Ola Brynildsrud Hege Brun-Hansen Ellen Skancke Haematological and serum biochemical values in Norwegian sled dogs before and after competing in a 600 km race Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica Biochemistry Haematology Long distance race Muscle enzymes Sled dog |
| title | Haematological and serum biochemical values in Norwegian sled dogs before and after competing in a 600 km race |
| title_full | Haematological and serum biochemical values in Norwegian sled dogs before and after competing in a 600 km race |
| title_fullStr | Haematological and serum biochemical values in Norwegian sled dogs before and after competing in a 600 km race |
| title_full_unstemmed | Haematological and serum biochemical values in Norwegian sled dogs before and after competing in a 600 km race |
| title_short | Haematological and serum biochemical values in Norwegian sled dogs before and after competing in a 600 km race |
| title_sort | haematological and serum biochemical values in norwegian sled dogs before and after competing in a 600 km race |
| topic | Biochemistry Haematology Long distance race Muscle enzymes Sled dog |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13028-019-0453-5 |
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