22 year old horse, severe anaemia and weight loss

[rummibailey]

Hi, Rummi is a 22 year old NF x cob, that I have owned since a 4 year old. He has always been a VERY good doer needing restricted grazing in Spring/summer and very little hay and no hard feed over winter.

For the last 18 months, he has lost some weight/condition, but I just put this down to him being pretty much retired (due to my younger horse being ridden more) and getting older. Last summer he was 470kg which was a slim weight for him. He had his teeth done (which were fine) and with ad lib hay, rugging up and extra feeds went through the winter ok but didn't gain any weight.

In last couple of months, he lost more weight, coat lost shine and he was quieter. He went down to 415kg and his gums were very white with a yellow tinge. I suspected liver failure and vet came and took bloods.

He had no fever and heart and lungs sounded fine. Droppings are normal. His RBC count was extremely low with severe anaemia. Healthy level should be between 5.5 and 10, his was 2!!! Vet was surprised he was coping as well as he was.

This was 12th June. Started him on 160 5mg tablets of prednisolone (steroids) as suspected autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (immune system attacking his own RBC). Other option would be spleen cancer or lymphoma. His blood results showed only slightly raised WBC and that his body WAS making the RBC but they were either being destroyed or lost.

Blood tests taken on 23rd June showed RBC count to be 3.8! Great improvement but could just be due to steroids majorly suppressing immune system. Can't keep him on that high level long term, so reduced to 80 a day to see how he does. Being re-tested tomorrow. He is currently 425kg and looking less ribby and boney.

My concern is that despite adlib grass, hay and big feeds of alphabet, linseed and readigrass, he has only gained a small bit of weight in over 3 weeks. Still could be lymphoma causing the autoimmune anaemia.


Has anyone had a horse with severe anaemia, and recovered long term?

Any experience of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia? or lymphoma?


Worried that he is at big risk of lami with the high steroids, but unsure if he can maintain RBC count without them. We are reducing steroid level and doing blood tests to see if we can get down to around 20 a day.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

Its a bit risky asking for specifiv advice on a veterinary matter, as your own vet is the expert with all the info, bear that in mind if you get responses.
Its a worry.

 

[rummibailey]

Thanks, don't worry, I am working closely with vet and will follow her advice. Just really looking for hope I suppose, that anyone has had a horse with such low RBC and weight loss, and pulled through. Pretty sure it is autoimmune and/or lymphoma, and prognosis is very poor, but there is still a slim chance I suppose......

 

[shergar]

Thanks, don't worry, I am working closely with vet and will follow her advice. Just really looking for hope I suppose, that anyone has had a horse with such low RBC and weight loss, and pulled through. Pretty sure it is autoimmune and/or lymphoma, and prognosis is very poor, but there is still a slim chance I suppose......

Anaemia and weight loss ,my first thought would be worms not saying your horse is not wormed but may be test for encysted red worm ,and tape worm.
If you type anaemia in the search box at the top of this page you will find more posts that may help.

 

[rummibailey]

He has worm counts done regularly and is double dosed for tapeworm twice a year. The vets says that the severe anaemia is so bad that it rules out a lot of the issues that cause only mild anaemia such as vitamin/mineral deficiency, gastric ulcers, worms, Cushings etc. She basically sais it doesn't get much worse than a count of 2. The fact that this has improved on high dose steroids does suggest an autoimmune disease as the steroids will have knocked out his immune system, so stopping it from attacking his own blood cells.....but this may return once the steroid level is reduced.

 

[shergar]

He has worm counts done regularly and is double dosed for tapeworm twice a year. The vets says that the severe anaemia is so bad that it rules out a lot of the issues that cause only mild anaemia such as vitamin/mineral deficiency, gastric ulcers, worms, Cushings etc. She basically sais it doesn't get much worse than a count of 2. The fact that this has improved on high dose steroids does suggest an autoimmune disease as the steroids will have knocked out his immune system, so stopping it from attacking his own blood cells.....but this may return once the steroid level is reduced.

The worm count does not include encysted red worm you will have to have a blood test for them,and tape worm ,your horse may have resistance to the wormers you have used.
I hope you can find the answer to your horses problem the steroids are always a worry.