Hepatitis/Liver Disease???

B

Baldybear

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Does anyone know much of Hepatitis/Liver Disease???

My pony has just been diagnosed with this, not exactly sure of the cause but my be due to a small probable (i think I am not sure) of ragwort over 12 years ago. The field he was in that time so long ago did have ragwort in and not sure if he even touched it, just dont know :(

It looks like he has 75% damage and at 80% it probably wont be reversible.

He has typical symptons as loss of appetite, real weight loss, nervous behaviour, photosensitisation in his nose and just general lethargy :(

The vet was down today and he has had corticosteriod injection a vitamin B1 injection and has corticosteriod tablets to take very day. Vet is back in 2 weeks to do blood test to see how he is responding.

The outlook doesnt look good, his age counts against him, he is 22. Just really not sure where to go with it all :(

Have had him for 14 years and know him since he was 2 and I am sure like many of you will just be devastated to lose him :(
 
Box_of_ Frogs? on here is very well up on liver disease. The only thing I can think of is that you should give him milk thistle (herbs which you can get from any reputable supplier) to support his liver.

Don't give up on him too soon. B o F brought her horse, Angel, back literally from the brink. Sure she will be along soon to give you some advice.

You may have more luck posting this in Veterinary. Good luck!

P.S. My friend's mare had hepatitis about 5 years ago - we never discovered the cause and she was really ill, but she recovered and is absolutely fine now.
 
((((((((hugs)))))))) so sorry to read this. I have no expereance of this only that my vets thought Lucy's liver was failing last week. Blood tests showed it wasn't. It would have been the end for Lucy if it was :( But she has so much else wrong with her :( :( :(
Sending loads of ((((((((((vibes))))))))) to your boy that he responds to treatment and is on the mend soon.
 
Currently fighting this with Dex (14.3 cob 11 years old)who was diagnosed 5 weeks ago :( he had blood tests, liver function tests, liver ultrasound scan,liver biopsy- 4 cores removed.
His enzymes were crazy high, blood full of bile, liver looked very bright- too bright on the scan, biopsy showed massive fibrosis but thankfully not cirrhosis. Whatever is wrong, it isnt ragwort or any type of poisoning :( then he started swelling like nothing i have ever seen, his heart started to fail with the overload. He had heart ECG, ultrasound which showed nornal wave pattern but very very fast. Injected steroids and we came home from clinic preparing ourselves to say goodbye :(:( Over the next week, he didnt lose any weight and continued to be very cheerful. the vet put him on 132 tablets a day- a mixture of steroids,diretics,liver support/milk thistle.

He has finally come off the steroids and continues to improve-slowly. There is no longer bile in his blood and enzymes are receding. He is on restricted grazing as he has gained weight and his coat has gone from dull and staring to gleaming :) I finally feel like we have a chance to get back to where we were before.

I wish you all the best, the steroids and milk thistle,heptsyl and liver support supplement are all the weapons available, coupled with careful management of feed inc hay.

When i have a chance i will write up his biopsy for your information.
 
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