Re: Amylase--Bloodwork Significance?

["Susan Garlinghouse" <suendavid@worldnet.att.net>]

Amylase is used to assess pancreatic function and presence of diseases like
pancreatitis, pancreatic neoplasia, diabetes---common in garbage-gut dogs
but would be pretty much unheard of in a horse.  By itself, even in dogs,
it's not a particularly specific or useful parameter unless you use it along
with lipase, glucose, fecal fats, etc etc etc.  In horses, don't worry about
it unless you're seeing other symptoms like chronic diarrhea, colic,
laminitis, renal disease, etc.

Susan G

----- Original Message -----
From: "Linda B. Merims" <lbm@naisp.net>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2002 9:28 AM
Subject: RC: Amylase--Bloodwork Significance?



What is the significance (or lack of significance) of amylase in a
blood test?  What does it mean if the level is very low?  What does
it mean if the level is very high?  Must this reading be matched
with other blood components before one can form any conclusions?

The blood was taken about 1 1/2 hours after a morning grain/hay meal.
The grain contains a fair amount of molasses.

Linda B. Merims
lbm@naisp.net
Massachusetts, USA