Affiliations: Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, UK | Imperial College School of Medicine at St. Mary’s, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK
Note: [] Corresponding author. Present address: Centre for Small Animal Studies, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 7UU, UK. Tel.: 01638 552700; Fax: 01765 690505; E‐mail: ARBodey@ aol.co.uk.
Abstract: Haemorheological parameters in nine breeds of dog were examined. Whole blood viscosity at both high and low shear rates differed significantly between the breeds with a 50% difference between the highest and lowest viscosity at high shear rate and a 140% difference at low shear rate. Athletic breeds (Greyhounds, Deerhounds) had the highest whole blood viscosities. Differences in viscosity correlated well with differences in haematocrit between breeds. When the blood samples were adjusted to a standard haematocrit (45%), there were no significant differences in viscosity. This implied that other rheological factors such as cellular deformability and plasma viscosity did not vary significantly between breeds, and direct measurement showed this to be the case.
