Diagnosed Liver Disease -Can you help?

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Jumpingjack007

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Hi there

I am considering taking on a horse which has been diagnosed with liver disease (he showed high levels on 3 out of 5 in a blood test). He is a lovely chap and I really want to save him from the bullet. Does anyone have any advice on if/or can it be treated? How do I manage a horse with this condition?

Any advice would be gratefully received. Thank you
 
Hi,

The liver is one of the organs that can regenerate its self, with the correct management providing it isnt more than 70-80% effected (dont quote me on the exact percentages!!)

My mare has had liver disease twice ,the first time we nearly lost her, the second time knew what it was and caught it earlier! - no vv happy no signs of it, just has tobe on a vit supplement.
Its quite a slow and steady process, involving, lost of rest correct feeding, tonic, and milkthisle with numerous blood test to check for progress.

Liver biopsy is available - but as the liver is a large organ my vets wernt keen to go down this route incase they didit biopsy the damaged bit!

It wont be cheap, but it is an organ that can come right. Id say get your vet out and see the treatment they would recomend?

good luck
 
Hi JJ007. Not sure how much you know about managing liver disease so please excuse what you know already. I took on Angel, a rescued gipsy cob mare about 3 years ago. She was as close to death as it's possible to get because of ragwort poisoning and the consequent appalling liver damage. It IS possible to manage a horse with liver disease but it depends on many things. Firstly, liver damage is normally only picked up when the symptoms start to show which only happens when about 70% of the liver is affected. At 76%, the condition is fatal. So you only have a small window. Secondly, if it's due to ragwort poisoning the damaged liver can NOT regenerate. If the liver damage is not caused by ragwort, then it can regenerate its function with the right support. Thirdly, the liver is responsible for so many critical functions within the body that the effects can be overwhelming to some horses. You need a hard-as-nails horse to survive catastrophic liver damage! But it IS possible. Here's how to support the liver:

- feed a VERY low protein diet as this means less work for the liver
- all animals need some protein but what you DO feed must be of the highest quality
- break total feed requirements into as many small feeds as you can
- feed Milk Thistle, D&H do a high quality dried one
- feed Yea Sac as liver damage compromises hind gut digestion
- stable the horse out of summer sun, especially if he has any pink skin

The head nutritionist at D&H, Dr Theresa Holland works closely with Prof Knottenbelt at Liverpool Uni on developing tailored feed programmes for liver damaged horses. She will be pleased to advise you. The Prof himself was a huge source of information and constructive advice when I was working to save Angel. He will answer any e-mails so worth asking for further guidance. Knotty@liverpool.ac.uk I think is his e-mail address. Do watch for the classic symptoms of liver damage such as loss of appetite, weight loss, lethargy, bloated abdomen, jaundice, terrible burns in summer sun. More serious symptoms include standing with the head pressed into a corner, staggering about, blindness and neurological symptoms that are triggered by levels of toxicity building up in the brain.

But Angel is now backed, happy, winning dressage competitions and generally expecting her adoring new owner to wait on her hand and foot!!! The only special management she now needs is to be stabled during the day May - September, low protein diet & Milk Thistle. Yes, she only has about 30% of her liver function remaining but it's enough - with the right support and management - for her to live an almost normal life. Please PM me if I can help further x
 
my horse all of a sudden stopped jumping and we had a blood test done to check nothing was wrong as back, teeth etc are all fine. It showed a problem with liver function as all of his liver enyzmes where high, the vet who took the blood sample and the other vet who did the liver biopsy said to them he looks like a perfectly healthy horse. he had a scan of his liver which showed an inflammed bile duct and some liver spots so he had a biopsy. At work on friday whilst waiting for the vet to ring all i got told was how I looked worries sick.... big relief when the vet said "its all good news " as thankfully after having a biopsy there isshowed there was no irreversible liver damage hes just got to go on a course of steriods for a month and then a supplement long term.
 
milk thistle and slippery elm. but your vet would be your first port of call for treatment. depends on what extent the liver is damaged. it is one organ that can regenerate with care, drugs, good worming, care, feed and homeopathic treatments. also depends what factor triggered the liver damage? ragwort poisoning is sadly accumulative. best have a deep in depth conversation with the vet currently involved, then question your own vet. good luck. th horse could have many happy years ahead of him if managed correctly.
 
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