blood test - weight/condition loss

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JadeyyBabeyy

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I was just wondering if anybody had any blood tests done on their horses for weight/condition loss?
if so did it bring anything up? and any advice would be much appreciated
Thanks
 
I did for a big rangy TB who always struggles to gain weight. I don't know what vet tested for - my request was to try and find out the reason for his unthriftyness - and the only result I got was that his liver enzymes were slightly raised, but nothing to stress about. Cost me over £160!! I did put him on milk thistle just in case, and have since added a good probiotic and some cereals to his diet and he is improving - on 8 good acres to himself!
 
Yes I blood tested him for everything when my good doer native pony became as the vet described "whippet thin" turned out he had tapeworm. There is now a saliva test you get for the tapeworm so might be worth trying that if you have not already done. My pony had the recommended amounts of tape-wormer but still got it really badly which was a shock. Before we got that diagnosis the vet thought he either had a heart condition or malabsorbtion syndrome or possibly a tumour. Thankfully it was just tapeworm and after treatment he returned to his normal fat self
 
Just a couple of weeks ago - my WB x TB has lost weight this autumn, despite being on good grass, ad lib hay and appropriate weight gain feeds. Turns out his liver enzymes are way high.

Vet is taking weekly bloods to keep an eye on his progress.

He also had a Cushings test, which came back negative
 
Just wondered if anyone has suggested ulcers?
I'm have terrible trouble nursing a horse with ulcers, she just can't absorb anything and is fading away, just heartbreaking.
Any advice or experiences with ulcers, gratefully received.
 
MotherGroom said:
Just wondered if anyone has suggested ulcers?
I'm have terrible trouble nursing a horse with ulcers, she just can't absorb anything and is fading away, just heartbreaking.
Any advice or experiences with ulcers, gratefully received.
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You haven't said what medication she is on but I had one and I made a five pronged plan - omeprazole to inhibit production of acid (I scrounged from family and friends because this was a rescue on a pretty much zero budget) reduce acidity (bicarbonate of soda) line the stomach (coconut oil) and boost the gut bacteria (a good probiotic such as yeasacc), low stress and a high fibre diet with constant ad lib access to forage. He is the poor doer referred to above and apart from that he almost starved 6 years ago so it has left him with absorption problems - he is constantly on yeasacc. Good luck - there are other ideas on here http://equinenutritionnerd.com/2014...tions-for-stomach-ulcer-treatment-prevention/
 
JillA said:
You haven't said what medication she is on but I had one and I made a five pronged plan - omeprazole to inhibit production of acid (I scrounged from family and friends because this was a rescue on a pretty much zero budget) reduce acidity (bicarbonate of soda) line the stomach (coconut oil) and boost the gut bacteria (a good probiotic such as yeasacc), low stress and a high fibre diet with constant ad lib access to forage. He is the poor doer referred to above and apart from that he almost starved 6 years ago so it has left him with absorption problems - he is constantly on yeasacc. Good luck - there are other ideas on here http://equinenutritionnerd.com/2014...tions-for-stomach-ulcer-treatment-prevention/
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Thanks JillA,
It started with her being in hospital for a hock flush. When I picked her up there was a nasty smell about her, I was told it was probably just anaesthetic working its way out. Hock healed fine, no lameness or problems, but still the smell continued, so was given another course of antibiotics for her. Finally she was allowed out as she hated being on box rest.
The weight started to go despite regular feeds. I got vet again, was advised it was just muscle loss! We plodded on, she then went off her feed - Calm and condition, extruded linseed and Alfa A and probiotics, plus add lib grass and hay. I asked about ulcer med's and was told best to have an ultra scope to see if that was the problem, as it was the same price as a course of Ulcer Gold.
Alarm bells ringing, they should be...I now find myself caring for a horse that has been dumped on me, enormous vets bills and uninsured!
She went in for her scope which revealed she was riddled with ulcers, but they didn't think she was that underweight, I begged to differ and don't like anything in my care looking like a thin whippet. Sent home again on the equivalent of omeprezole, which the vets got in from abroad and Ulcer Gold.
After four days she started violent diarrhoea. Vet again wanted to take her in but said I wouldn't get any change from £10,000. Not an option, so I cared for her at home. Three days and nights of drips and stomach tubing, gut calmer and protein three times a day. Feacal samples showed clostridium, so more antibiotics to get rid of that and we are now clear.
Feeding is a challenge as her system is so depleted. Friends try to be helpful and say just put her down she looks awful, easy option. But when a young horse 6yrs looks up, neighs and comes up for a massage and likes to follow you around the garden and into my cottage nearly, how could I give up on her when she is trying so hard?
As of today she is now on Thunderbrooks feeds, Equicarb charcoal to mop up any toxins, Gut Restore, Ulcergone, Liquid Gold which is a sea buck thorne tonic, Herbal chaff and their own brand of Basic mix powder (the theory being no chemicals or binders are used in the pelleting process or any of their feed, it's all organic and free of farm spray).
She is now covered in tiny scabs which I'm told is the toxins working their way out of her body. As for condition she would still be in the 0 category and it is awful looking at something you would think came of the streets of Egypt. But she seems happy with her friends and eats five small meals a day, is on good grass for the time of year with hay if she wants it.
Has anyone else experience of this? I need the support and experience of the horse community out there...I'm asking when will i start to see a turn around and the condition come back, or am I hoping for the impossible because her system is just too damaged?
Sorry this is so long, but now you have the full story! Many thanks.
 
Sounds like you are doing your best for her, and maybe what she needs is time. If she isn't too lethargic, then her system is doing okay, and she is young enough. Just keep on the probiotics and maybe some coconut oil and micronised linseed - all the oils will line her GIT and stop any further ulceration. My TB has a compromised system due to having been so emaciated but keeping the food coming, the GIT as healthy as it can be and the stress levels down is all helping - I think keeping her at home was a good plan, being in horsepital is stressful at the best of times. The scabs are a good sign if her system is clearing the toxins, just give her time. Maybe take photographs and weight tape at set intervals (weekly, fortnightly or monthly) so you can track her progress, when you see them daily it is too easy to not realise what progress they are making. Good luck, she will come right if you let her.
Don't let them give you any more antibiotics, they are probably knocking her gut flora for six, and you need them in top condition to maximise the food she is getting. Ditto garlic - it is a complete no-no, not only does it destroy gut bacteria but there is also a link with anaemia (not suggesting you are feeding it but just in case and for anyone else)
 
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JillA said:
Sounds like you are doing your best for her, and maybe what she needs is time. If she isn't too lethargic, then her system is doing okay, and she is young enough. Just keep on the probiotics and maybe some coconut oil and micronised linseed - all the oils will line her GIT and stop any further ulceration. My TB has a compromised system due to having been so emaciated but keeping the food coming, the GIT as healthy as it can be and the stress levels down is all helping - I think keeping her at home was a good plan, being in horsepital is stressful at the best of times. The scabs are a good sign if her system is clearing the toxins, just give her time. Maybe take photographs and weight tape at set intervals (weekly, fortnightly or monthly) so you can track her progress, when you see them daily it is too easy to not realise what progress they are making. Good luck, she will come right if you let her.
Don't let them give you any more antibiotics, they are probably knocking her gut flora for six, and you need them in top condition to maximise the food she is getting. Ditto garlic - it is a complete no-no, not only does it destroy gut bacteria but there is also a link with anaemia (not suggesting you are feeding it but just in case and for anyone else)
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Wow that's all so helpful, thanks. Where do you get coconut oil from? The vet said vegetable oil so I went and bought litres of the stuff!
I forgot to tell you that she was also given an anabolic steroid injection on his last visit, which he said would last three months and turn her around very quickly...still waiting!
Spoke with another nutritionalist today who said more top quality roughage such as Alfalfa hay and nuts, my only concern is that she will then fill up on bulk and not protein.
Most days I can get four feeds in, on a good day five, but that's rare. My local feed merchants agree that it may be better to up the mix gradually, as her meals are only small as advised and therefore possibly not quite enough for a 15.1 TB. Advice seems to vary on feeding for what her optimum weight should be, to feeding small amounts as that is all her stomach can cope with now?
Good idea will go and did out my weight tape...have to admit was never sure how good they were, no one ever agreed on whether you measured to the end of the tape or to the end of the striped bit?! But I can see the merit of it now and as you say that would really boost me seeing the small changes!
Where in the world are you, I'm in East Anglia? Would be great to have your advice close by, but for now the magic of Internet will have to do!! I'm not very technical so never sure if my messages are going or I forget my password...it's an age thing!! Thanks again.
 
Hi Jill, just worked out the link you sent, very interesting. Many of those natural products are in the Thunderbrooks products. I give them liquorice treats from time to time, so glad that's good, but didn't know about garlic! I did know about papaya as we ate alot when I lived in Africa, but not that you can give it to horses. Actually the horses I found in the Congo where eating whole bananas? Also where do we get the Chia seeds etc. all well and good if we lived in the USA. The other thing you sent showing the before and after photos of the bay Arab rescue horse, well my poor girl makes the before photo of it look positively fat :(
Thank you so much for boosting my hope and encouraging me onwards!
 
Yeasacc and coconut oil I get from ebay - I usually search for and find most things on there, just make sure you get food quality. Vegetable oil is good but my lot couldn't like it - typical. It is high calories without sugars so usually adds condition but it doesn't line the GIT the way coconut oil is supposed to. Your nutritionist is right - forage does have some protein and carbs but plenty of fibre which her GIT needs to be healthy.
Weight tapes aren't very accurate but they do let you know how much is gained/lost. And I'm in Shropshire and no expert, just have had experience with that and read and learn from other people. Feel free to message me if you want though.
Updates/progress reports would be good :)
 
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mine lost a ton of weight and started balding over a xmas break. vet ran special blodd test that showed inflammation. couldn't find it, so he ended up in horse hsopital and it tuned out to be cysts on his back and mild kissing spine. he'd dropped weight cause of the pain. also found arthritis in the hocks,
 
Just going through this with one of the guys here. His blood tests revealed mild liver enzyme elevation, but nothing else. Switched him to a liver friendly diet and a liver supplement, and levels had dropped a little when he was retested. He's putting a little bit of weight on, and is a lot more cheerful - but I suspect we'll not find out what the cause was.
 
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