Effects of intravenous administration of formaldehyde on platelet and coagulation variables in healthy horses.
OBJECTIVE
To assess safety and determine effects of IV administration of formaldehyde on hemostatic variables in healthy horses.


METHODS
7 healthy adult horses.


METHODS
Clinical signs and results of CBC, serum biochemical analyses, and coagulation testing including template bleeding time (TBT) and activated clotting time (ACT) were compared in horses given a dose of 0.37% formaldehyde or lactated Ringer's solution (LRS), IV, in a 2-way crossover design. In a subsequent experiment, horses received an infusion of 0.74% formaldehyde or LRS. In another experiment, horses were treated with aspirin to impair platelet responses prior to infusion of formaldehyde or LRS.


RESULTS
Significant differences were not detected in any variable measured between horses when given formaldehyde or any other treatment. Infusion of higher doses of formaldehyde resulted in adverse effects including muscle fasciculations, tachycardia, tachypnea, serous ocular and nasal discharge, agitation, and restlessness.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravenous infusion of formaldehyde at doses that do not induce adverse reactions did not have a detectable effect on measured hemostatic variables in healthy horses.
Taylor
E L
EL
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
Sellon
D C
DC
Wardrop
K J
KJ
Hines
M T
MT
Kingston
J K
JK
D000818:Animals; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male
D005557:Formaldehyde