Oral single dose of allopurinol in thoroughbred foals born from mares with placentitis

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Allopurinol in foals born from mares with placentitis. Twenty foals were assigned into two groups: Healthy foals (n=10), born from healthy mares and Placentitis foals (n=10), born from mares with placentitis. Five foals from each group were randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. Treatment groups received Allopurinol (40mg kg-1 orally six hours after birth). Blood samples were collected for estimation of hematological variables and serum concentration of calcium, chloride, creatinine, phosphorus, glucose, lactate and magnesium. Placentitis foals presented leukopenia and neutropenia when compared with Healthy foals, at birth. The white blood cell (WBC) count was lower in the Placentitis foals untreated at 12 hours. No adverse effects related to the use of Allopurinol were detected. Treated Placentitis foals showed higher serum calcium and glucose levels within 12 hours than untreated Placentitis foals. Administration of Allopurinol PO in foals born from mares with placentitis did not result in adverse effects and can help in stabilizing serum calcium and glucose levels.