The objective of this study was to evidence alterations in plasma biochemistry in police urban horses, before and after work. We used 28 horses divided into two groups: GI consisting of 12 animals used in the shift from 7:30 am to 12:30 pm, and GII consisting of 16 animals used in the shift from 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Horses from both groups were fed 2 hours before work. Two blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of each animal, before and after work. The blood glucose and phosphate levels showed differences, the glucose concentration increased in GII and phosphate concentration increased in GI and GII. The increase of the phosphate concentrations can be due to the reduction of glomerular filtration and consequent absence of urination during work. Fasting usually stimulates gluconeogenesis in order to supply the energy demand, which may be the cause of increased blood glucose levels in the horses from GII after work. These horses worked 3 h more than horses from GI, besides they began the activities with lower basal values of blood glucose. By analyzing the results of this study, we concluded that the use of horses for urban policing resulted in hyperphosphatemia and hyperglycemia.
biochemistry; glycemia; horse; patrol; phosphatemia