1. Saad Arslan Research in Animal Science
Kenneth McKeever
While I do not have too much experience with large animals, learning about them
and how we can use them to benefit the human world has always fascinated me. Some of
the various ways horses help humans are through equine assisted therapy, animal nutrition
studies and physiological research, an area of focus here at Rutgers. The horse is truly an
ideal animal model for conducting many research studies. Their athletic nature, natural
desire to run, and unique companionship with humans make it particularly easy for us to
conduct controlled studies on them. Perhaps, the most recent of the research studies that I
had participated in involved comparative exercise and cardiovascular physiology of
equines.
During the past two semesters, I have had the privilege to work with Dr. McKeever
and PhD student Ryan Avenatti in learning basic horse care and conditioning, lab safety,
and the operation of lab equipment. In taking care of the horse, I have learned how to safely
transport them, clean them, groom them, and feed them. I have also observed a horse
veterinarian heal wounds and treat minor injuries on the equines. However, what I enjoyed
the most while taking care of the horses was establishing a bond with them. Through
interaction, unfortunately, I have found some horses to be loving and extremely docile,
while others seemed to be intimidating and aggressive. I have become attracted to their
personalities than their actual names. I have even come to admire some of the athleticism
of the horses, as some can run faster than others during the treadmill tests.
I learned that before one becomes accustomed to the lab equipment, he or she must
thoroughly understand and follow the etiquettes of the lab. I believe that our laboratory
should be a productive learning place that requires everyone working there to help
cooperate to maintain a respectful and supportive environment. Furthermore, respecting
each other, following orders, collaborating, and maintaining a safe and clean lab are
amongst the most important principles that should be practiced there. One particular
example of this is when we were always asked to dispose any biohazard substance or
instrument in the designated bin. These rules also apply to outside the lab as well; after
feeding the horses and taking them outside, we would usually clean the stables, sweep
around the stalls, vacuum the area as well as rake the Equiciser to keep everything clean for
both us and the horses.
Operating the lab equipment correctly and effectively was perhaps the most
important subject to learn during the research. Over the weeks, we were taught how to
conduct incremental exercise tests on the high speed treadmill and measure VO2-max
levels via an open respirometry system that uses a mask that is attached by a series of
tubing to an oxygen sensor. I had observed intravenous catheter care on the horses, after
which the blood samples were brought to the lab to have plasma extracted from it. We then
had to spin the microhematocrit tubes in a centrifuge, after which we measured and
analyzed them. We were also taught how to operate the refractometer to measure total
protein in the blood plasma, as well as measuring glucose levels from that same plasma.

2. The interpretation of the blood analyses is very important in that it creates a clinical picture
for each horse’s health at a molecular level. I learned a great deal from this research study
as well as from both its interactive and lab components, and hope to take my experiences to
contribute further in animal research world.