lialls
Well-Known Member
That is good to know, I have also seen people recently using Improvac injections for hormone issues so maybe that is an option too once we've ruled out PSSM, Cushings and Liver issue.
'Girthy' and under the weather Mare - WWYD
- Thread starter lialls
- Start date
lynz88
🐴💈💃
Random question (and havent read all of the replies): is she on any alfalfa by chance? Mine was not happy to be touched, was girthy, was very itchy too until I removed alfalfa. He still is girthy and doesnt like his tummy touched but it js because his back gets tight due to his arthritis compensations. If I massage his back he is a much happier critter.
lialls
Well-Known Member
This crossed my mind last week so I am quietly transiting away from Alfa-a on to speedy beet as a precaution. However, prior to the symptoms starting at the end of July she actually wasn't fed anything, if she was in hard work she might get a handful of Baileys Sweet Meadow mix before work but otherwise she's just lived on grass and hay for the most part so I don't think this was the initial cause of the symptoms but it could be contributing to them now.
Hopefully get the results of the Cushings and EMS, PSSM and Liver bloods this week, though it is starting to look more like its a hormone issue, the girthyness seems to flare up every 3 weeks and then settle down before flaring up again. Depending on what the bloods show Vets will probably be back out first week of January to run bloods to look at the hormones too.
maya2008
Well-Known Member
Things I would check:
- pasture plants. Some horses are not educated as well by their dams or have a penchant for poison and eat things other horses won’t touch. Those things can cause liver issues and other attendant problems.
- video her on hard and soft and tight turns under saddle and on lunge, jumping included and just check, really check for any lameness. I’ve seen plenty of cases where physio said nothing wrong but there was.
- pasture plants. Some horses are not educated as well by their dams or have a penchant for poison and eat things other horses won’t touch. Those things can cause liver issues and other attendant problems.
- video her on hard and soft and tight turns under saddle and on lunge, jumping included and just check, really check for any lameness. I’ve seen plenty of cases where physio said nothing wrong but there was.
VegasRalph
Member
Brilliant stuff x
lialls
Well-Known Member
Little update and thought I'd include the pictures of the ulcer for anyone interested.
Vet came on the 10th Dec and took bloods for the following and these are the results -
PSSM1 - Negative
Cushings(ACTH) - Negative
EMS - Vet said the insulin is showing as slightly raised on the blood test, apparently it should be under 30, Sals is 60 but they won't treat it until its 100. I don't know if that means that she's pre EMS or if this is just classed as negative? I have changed her over to feeds suitable for laminitis which she is not happy about but that seemed like a good call to reduce all sugars.
Liver - this showed a mildly raised liver enzymes (below) so we have been doing another liver detox (last one was Aug/Sept time with Global herbs restore)), this time with Hestevard Hapalyte, which she has refused to eat in any feed so I've been having to mix with water and syringe in to her mouth daily. I have about a week of the liver detox left to get though.
I had a senior vet this time(10th Dec) who asked to look at the image of the ulcer, he thought that this was mild and that it didn't corelate with the level of girthiness and just general unhappy mood we are seeing. The younger vet who scoped her recommended a feed supplement to try first and then injectable omeprazole if that didn't work. Sal is becoming more difficult to handle on occasions with each thing that we try so I have requested the fed omeprazole which they have agreed to but they wanted me to finish the liver detox first. Though thinking about this now, if she won't eat her feed then I can't get this in to her anyway
And so far we have no improvement in the girthiness which she is showing
I had thought that it might be hormonal so I've been keeping a diary and while the symptoms do get better and then flare up when she comes in to season they never actually go completely.
Vets aren't being that forth coming with any kind of next steps or diagnostic options so I'm kinda relying on my own knowledge and the internet
for any clues that I can follow up on.
Vet came on the 10th Dec and took bloods for the following and these are the results -
PSSM1 - Negative
Cushings(ACTH) - Negative
EMS - Vet said the insulin is showing as slightly raised on the blood test, apparently it should be under 30, Sals is 60 but they won't treat it until its 100. I don't know if that means that she's pre EMS or if this is just classed as negative? I have changed her over to feeds suitable for laminitis which she is not happy about but that seemed like a good call to reduce all sugars.
Liver - this showed a mildly raised liver enzymes (below) so we have been doing another liver detox (last one was Aug/Sept time with Global herbs restore)), this time with Hestevard Hapalyte, which she has refused to eat in any feed so I've been having to mix with water and syringe in to her mouth daily. I have about a week of the liver detox left to get though.
I had a senior vet this time(10th Dec) who asked to look at the image of the ulcer, he thought that this was mild and that it didn't corelate with the level of girthiness and just general unhappy mood we are seeing. The younger vet who scoped her recommended a feed supplement to try first and then injectable omeprazole if that didn't work. Sal is becoming more difficult to handle on occasions with each thing that we try so I have requested the fed omeprazole which they have agreed to but they wanted me to finish the liver detox first. Though thinking about this now, if she won't eat her feed then I can't get this in to her anyway
And so far we have no improvement in the girthiness which she is showing
I had thought that it might be hormonal so I've been keeping a diary and while the symptoms do get better and then flare up when she comes in to season they never actually go completely.
Vets aren't being that forth coming with any kind of next steps or diagnostic options so I'm kinda relying on my own knowledge and the internet
for any clues that I can follow up on.fredflop
Well-Known Member
Rob Jackson vet chiropractor is really good and spots things others done. I’d be giving him a go