Blood


Icelandics are nearly always considered anemic in other countries. They are compared to hot or warm blooded horses by most labs when in fact they have closer ties to the cold blooded draught breeds.

Because of the isolation the Icelandics have developed somewhat differently than most other breeds, and as they are all offspring of a few thousand horses (after a natural disaster less than 200 years ago) they are all very similar horses in many regards. So, their blood can be different from other breeds, without anything being wrong with them.

Ulla Bartelt, Germany, compiled a blood profile for iceys, which is here below. After transport or after great stress the bloodwork can be far outside of normal.

I won't translate the list because I hope your vet can figure out what it means (and because I just couldn't do it).

Name Standard Profile
Leuko 6.000-10.000
Ery 6.5-9.0
HK 30-40
Thromb 100-300
MCHC 31-36
MCH 13-19
MCV 37-55
Neutrophile Granulozyten (in)
Stabk. 0-6
Segmentkern 45-70
Eosimophile 0-4
Basophile 0-2
Lymphozyten 20-45
Monozyte 0-5
Ges Eiweiss 55-75
Albumin 45-60
Natrium 125-150
Kalium 2.8-4.5
Calcium 2.5-3.4
Phosphor 0.5-1.3
Magnesium 0.7-0.9
Eisen 14.3-25.1
Kupfer 18.0-21.3
Zink 11.0-17.6
Alk.P -350
SGOT -240
yGT -20
LDH -400
Cholesterin 90-170
Triglyceride -50
Harnstoff 20-40
Kreatinin -2.0
Glucose 55-95
CK -90
CHE 1500-3000
T3 0.2-2.06
T4 13-31
Cortisol 30-100
Bilirubin ges. -1
Vit. B 12 -2000
Fols. -20