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Misshana
Silver Member
England
449 Posts |
 Posted - 14 Apr 2010 : 12:12:33 PM
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| I had a mare back in about 1987 whose blood results showed severe liver damage, so bad we were advised to take her immediately to Rossdales. Rossdales did a liver function test and bioposy (needle through her side) while she stood in stocks. They could tell straight away from the biopsy that it wasnt ragwort poisoning although they couldn't actually determine a cause. It was put down to something seasonal in pasture. We had her on medication for a few months and eventually blood levels came back to normal and she carried on ridden and also had 2 foals for me before she was pts in 2000 aged 23. So PLEASE get biopsy done, I was devastated when I thought it could be ragwort. |
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angel2002
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2502 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2010 : 12:49:32 PM
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Hi mittens,
I was january 2008, first signs I had was she looked a bit lean then and within about 10-14 days she looked like a hat-rack and I am not exagerating. She seemed to be eating short feed OK but was being fussy with her hay. I called my vet and they suspected liver problems so started antibiotics straight away and said we should wait 7-10 days. The next day I rang vet again and said I wanted her refered to Rossdales because she had lost so much weight in 10 days I wasn't prepared to wait another 10 days to see if the anti b's worked. My vet then came out and sedated Princess in her stable, shaved her side, did a scan, took 3 liver biopsies, did a peritonial (SP?) drain/tap and as she was sedated they rasped her teeth which were actually not bad but they did them anyway just in case. In the end she was on anti b's for months and HB Fomula, had to have regular blood tests as well until all her counts came back to normal. It took nearly a year to get her back up to weight as you have to do it slowly but I am pleased to say she is still with me and has been fine since (touch wood!!)
I did have a topic on here about it at the time, will hunt through the archives and post the link here for you - found it 
http://www.arabianlines.com/forum1/topic_new.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=23780&SearchTerms=liver,disease
Hope this helps Mittens, please keep us updated
Mandy x
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Angel
Passion Arabians
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mittens
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2109 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2010 : 10:58:20 PM
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| Thank you! Had a read of old posts too,seems to be a frighteningly common condition but then the liver has so much of a job to do things are bound to feel the strain. Whinney was actually standing there with hay dangling out of her mouth just now so she's fancied that or the first time in days. She's on the oral B-vit from vet along side the L94.She's also discovered the rock salt lick which will encourage her to keep the fluids up.Thinking of taking her to friends to be stabled for any tests as she's only a mile up the road or so as opposed to carting her 40 + miles when she's not that strong.Swelling of abdomen ad legs is another symptom apparently and she's not shown that yet.Your support on here is like a warm blanket.Thanks again everyone! |
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gossy
Platinum Member
England
3639 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2010 : 12:12:58 PM
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| good luck and keep is updated on her condition x |
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daintyarabs
New Member
21 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2010 : 01:05:50 AM
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| Can I just ask you, has she been tested for Liver Fluke, maybe worth thinking about! |
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angel2002
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2502 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2010 : 12:52:53 PM
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How's your mare today Mittens? Has your vet done the biopsy yet?
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Angel
Passion Arabians
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precious
Platinum Member
England
2253 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2010 : 10:47:24 AM
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| Mittens how is she? i know u've been very worried did u lok at that site xx |
     
Gemma Thompson
Birmingham West Midlands
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angel2002
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2502 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2010 : 1:20:02 PM
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| Any news???????? xx |
Angel
Passion Arabians
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mittens
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2109 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2010 : 4:40:20 PM
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| Hi all! Bit of a bad day yesterday not helped by the sun so not much appetite,eating grass again today and some breakfast. I've syringed in the L94 with honey as I can't wait for her to get acclimatised to the taste. With regards biopsy at this stage given what the vet has said,she can only cope with enough sedative for a shetland,at least thats all she risked giving her,plus she didnt seem to think it was worth too much trauma for her at this stage.But WHAT stage?! All we know is her last results for bloods were worse than the first test a week previous. I'm seriously thinking this is coming to the end as she's losing condition and her appetite is so sporadic atm. I've only ever been in this situation oce and that was with my very ancient old pony who just lay down and was finding it very difficult to get his breath so I had him pts and things progressed s quickly that I wasn't given time to think about it but this different somehow but I can't let love and sentiment get in the way of her dignity and quality of life. I just want to see an improvement somewhere! Very sad times |
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precious
Platinum Member
England
2253 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2010 : 4:47:11 PM
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O mittens, sorry to hear she having bad days, ive still got everything crossed!!
Come on Whinney! You can do it girl xx |
Gemma Thompson
Birmingham West Midlands
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Goldenmane
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4964 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2010 : 6:05:48 PM
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| You know whats best for your beloved Whinney. Ask vet for their prognosis. As you said, dignity and quality of life. Everything crossed X |
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mittens
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2109 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2010 : 9:05:58 PM
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Tonight she's alot more like Whinney again,she's developed a taste for apples and doesn't seem too troubled by the L94/honey mixture,I think she knows I'm trying to help her and she's always wanting to stand where I am.She is combing the hedge for goosegrass and I've been picking it out and dropping it all around the field and she is seeking it out.She had a good long wee after eating that so I think she's detoxing herself alongside what we are offering her,also seen her picking off dandelion heads and eating those.Her walk was much more purposeful too.This isn't to say she has turned a corner as she has some days better than others but she seemed much more tuned in to her surroundings earlier.She was a little cold so seemed happy when I put the neck hood back on,now she's used to the velcro sound (disguised by my cough!)I'm now heading back with wind-up radio,numerous torches,flask and apples to grate into her feed.Will keep you all posted.Will see how she picks up on the correct dose of L94 then get the vet in next few days.  |
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precious
Platinum Member
England
2253 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2010 : 09:44:58 AM
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Mittens thats better news
Thank god for apples :)
Fingers and toes are still tightly crossed for her x |
Gemma Thompson
Birmingham West Midlands
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angel2002
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2502 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2010 : 1:48:52 PM
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Is she on any antibiotics at all Mittens or just the herbal tonic that you are giving her? Also is she insured?
Sorry for all the questions, I know you must be having a bad time of it at the moment but I think if she were mine I would be seeking a second opinion......
All still crossed for your mare xxx
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Angel
Passion Arabians
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ella
Gold Member
United Kingdom
786 Posts |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 21 Apr 2010 : 9:32:10 PM
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| We lost my anglo to liver failure 18 months ago, the vet's opinion was that he had sustained the damage in his youth before we owned him, and it caught up with him as he aged (he was 19). It was a terrible end for the toughest most vibrant horse I have ever owned. We had many ups and downs in his last fortnight when we thought he was beating it, but ultimately he went blind and we had to release him from his suffering. He walked out to his end looking in the peak of condition, but underneath everything was packing up. I sincerely hope for your sake that your horse recovers, but I echo ella's plea that you get an accurate diagnoses as looks can be deceiving. Tulsa died peacefully by injection in his paddock and is buried there. It took us all a long time to come to terms with his loss, but we stopped his suffering as soon as we knew there was no way back, it is a terrible illness. |
  Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
Edited by - Callisto on 21 Apr 2010 11:02:45 PM |
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marionpack
Gold Member
England
1073 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2010 : 09:27:14 AM
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| Glad she has had a better day, it does raise your spirits and hopefully on the right road to recovery, fingures crossed |
Berkshire
   
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precious
Platinum Member
England
2253 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2010 : 12:21:14 PM
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| Hows she doing x |
Gemma Thompson
Birmingham West Midlands
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angel2002
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2502 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2010 : 1:35:54 PM
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| Hows your mare Mittens? x |
Angel
Passion Arabians
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angel2002
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2502 Posts |
Posted - 28 Apr 2010 : 12:10:03 PM
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| I hope no news is good news? Anyone know if mittens had a biopsy done on her mare and what the results were? |
Angel
Passion Arabians
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angieb
Gold Member
England
966 Posts |
Posted - 28 Apr 2010 : 12:34:45 PM
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| Ohh Tat I have only just read your post - can't offer any advice but just wanted to let you know we're thinking of you all. I know how much your girls n boys mean to you xxxx |
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alison
Platinum Member
Wales
1810 Posts |
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precious
Platinum Member
England
2253 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2010 : 9:17:06 PM
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| mittens we are worried r u n horse ok ? xx |
Gemma Thompson
Birmingham West Midlands
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poppyandbea
New Member
England
8 Posts |
Posted - 03 May 2010 : 4:57:18 PM
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| just wondered how you horse was doing as my mare is also fighting liver disease at the moment |
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Renee
Gold Member
539 Posts |
Posted - 03 May 2010 : 11:29:51 PM
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| Sorry this is a bit late but hope it helps. I agree with most of what's been said. My gelding had liver failure at about 10 yrs old, vet wanted to put him down. Long story short - the liver needs support (vitamin b - brewers yeast, milk thistle is fantastic, for me best in tincture form you can get it really cheaply from the organic herb trading company in somerset, just google it, minimum order £50 ish i think). The liver also needs you to reduce any strain on it - so, get your horse off the grass, keep him in a yard and give him organic hay. Feed him simple food which is easy to digest, high fibre, nothing complicated. Give him a probiotic. You may think I'm mad but I did this for 10 years with my gelding (he had an hour or so turnout a day, max, and I made him a 30ft x 25ft yard outside the stables next to the field so he felt he was outside, even when he was in, he could eat his hay under a tree and chat to his companion over the fence) and eventually his liver was completely ok and I could turn him out 24/7 (albeit on old mixed unfertilised and organic pasture). For me, a big lesson was that grass is full of natural toxins that can be challenging to the liver, high protein is challenging to the liver, so it's crucial to reduce that challenge. My gelding had mild colic when he was 32 (YES, 32) and his blood tests showed his liver to be fine (at last), I put him down at 34 years old, as some of you will remember, and not due to his liver. Getting a horse over liver damage is a long, arduous and heartbreaking journey, and it's not always successful. Liver supporting herbs can't hurt a horse, so you might as well try it whilst reducing anything that could be putting stress on her liver too. Good luck. Renee x |
      
Jeago (Ludomino x Bahia) 1973-2007 & Khylie* (Nazdrowie x Kaminah) 1990-2010 ~ Fouad el Khyl (Lothar el Nyhl x Khylie) 2005- |
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LIVER DISEASE/FAILURE,please help.bit long
