09/16/2026
Welcome back to Wellness Wednesday: Bloodwork Basics! This week we’ll be talking about the Lactate blood test.
Ever had a veterinarian out for a colic episode? Then you likely heard about the Lactate blood test or had one done on your horse.
The Lactate blood test measures the level of lactic acid in the blood. Lactic acid is produced by cells in the body during anaerobic metabolism, which occurs when there is inadequate oxygen needed to produce energy in the body. Lactic acid builds up during normal exercise, but can also rise due to dehydration or impaired blood flow to the internal organs. Using a handheld device and a few drops of blood, we can get a lactate reading within a few seconds on the farm!
The level of lactate gives us crucial information during emergency situations, especially colics and cases of shock or tissue hypoxia. In a normal adult horse, the lactate should be between 0-2 mmol/L. A mild elevation in lactate (2-4 mmol/L) often indicates dehydration or early systemic stress. More significant elevations in lactate (>4 mmol/L) indicate issues with tissue oxygenation and blood circulation and often tells us something more serious may be occurring within the body requiring more advanced treatment (such as intensive medical management or surgical correction in a hospital setting).
