The loading dose of clopidogrel induced a rapid inhibition of
platelet function within hours, and the maintenance doses were adequate
to retain inhibition levels over 4 days of therapy without
inducing adverse clinical effects in healthy horses. The Multiplate
was suitable for measuring equine platelet function and detecting
the effects of clopidogrel. The prolonged inhibitory effect revealed
by the ASPItest compared with the ADPtest and ADPtestHS may be
due to previously unknown differences in the activation of platelets
in horses and humans.