CLOTTING PROFILES AND SELECTED HEMATOLOGY OF CAPTIVE SPEKE'S GAZELLES (GAZELLA SPEKEI)

Manual restraint and jugular venipuncture were used to obtain blood for hematology and coagulation tests for 18 captive Speke's gazelles (Gazella spekei). The hematocrit and hemoglobin values were slightly higher in Speke's gazelles than in domestic ruminants. The Speke's gazelles had a mean prothrombin time of 15.1 sec and a mean activated partial thromboplastin time of 24.2 sec. The pregnant female Speke's gazelles had shorter activated partial thromboplastin times than the males, but the difference was not significant. Ideally, prothrombin times and activated partial thromboplastin times would be compared to a healthy conspecific during a suspected bleeding crisis. Baseline prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times are presented here for Speke's gazelles because clotting times for exotic hoofstock are quite limited.