New method may improve blood test’s ability to detect inflammation in horses

Detecting inflammation in horses can be tricky—especially when trying to distinguish between acute and chronic cases. A new study from Penn State University may help veterinarians do just that, thanks to a fresh approach to interpreting a routine diagnostic tool: the complete blood count (CBC).

While inflammation is a normal part of healing, chronic or excessive inflammation can cause pain, tissue damage, and long-term health problems in horses. Veterinarians commonly rely on a CBC to assess a horse’s health, but traditional reference ranges weren’t designed to specifically flag inflammation.

To improve early detection, Penn State researchers have developed new inflammatory indices—mathematical combinations of CBC values that act as more precise biomarkers of inflammation. By integrating data from various white blood cell subtypes and platelets, these indices create a clearer, composite view of the horse’s inflammatory status.

According to the research team, this method could help clinicians identify inflammation earlier, guide timely treatment, and ultimately improve equine health and performance.

The full study is available online ahead of print in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science (December issue).