High Bilirubin

[beckieswann]

Hi there,

I was wonering if someone had any ideas or advise at all...

My horse previously did not suffer with colic (he was on the yard 2/3 years before I bought him) and firt colic'd last year in July, vet put it down to impaction... he then colic'd again in Octoberand the vet popped it down to impaction, anyway winter came and went and he showed signs of colic in March - thanks to coligone it disappeared and he had the odd symptom here and there since but because his routine has been managed the slightest sign of potential colic gets treated and we've been fine until 4 wees ago - he colic'd again - new vet came out and made sense, caused by difference in iet - more gas etc...

Anyway I won a recent competition for an equine analysis, where you send their poo and wee off, thinking what a great opportunity! Anyway results came back:

Moderately high bilirubin, urine had trace proteins in thee (slight kiney and/or bladdder infection from drugs used when had colic - possible), ph was 7.5%, specific gravity was 1.025 (no idea what that is!), calcui - 0.66% (low), sediment - 1.02% which is normal and a low worm count - 412.

He was foun deficient in Vit B complex, -3% gut bacteria, iron -4%, zinc -3%.

I've just been reading up about high bilirubin and have freaked out a little bit - can anyone explain more to me, or help make sense on the above abit, and could this be what causes colic??

Appreciate any feedback and thanks for reading this far!

Beckie

 

[alsiola]

Moderately high bilirubin, urine had trace proteins in thee (slight kiney and/or bladdder infection from drugs used when had colic - possible), ph was 7.5%, specific gravity was 1.025 (no idea what that is!), calcui - 0.66% (low), sediment - 1.02% which is normal and a low worm count - 412.

Do you know how the urine was tested? If it was done with a dipstick (common) then these results will not be accurate as they are not designed for horses. A trace of protein is not abnormal to me. Bilirubin is a breakdown product of haemoglobin, so can be caused if red blood cells are being broken down at a higher than normal rate. It is normally excreted in bile, but could appear in urine if there were high blood concentration. Usually we find it in horses that haven't eaten in a while, as the rate of excretion through bile is decreased.

He was foun deficient in Vit B complex, -3% gut bacteria, iron -4%, zinc -3%.

Faecal testing in this way has no solid science that I am aware of behind it, so is probably best ignored.

I wouldn't be worried.

 

[beckieswann]

Do you know how the urine was tested? If it was done with a dipstick (common) then these results will not be accurate as they are not designed for horses. A trace of protein is not abnormal to me. Bilirubin is a breakdown product of haemoglobin, so can be caused if red blood cells are being broken down at a higher than normal rate. It is normally excreted in bile, but could appear in urine if there were high blood concentration. Usually we find it in horses that haven't eaten in a while, as the rate of excretion through bile is decreased.

No idea how it was tested i'm afraid - it was done by Forest farmacy if that helps! Thank you for helping to clarify - I was reading all sorts of stories on the net! He had colic 2 days prior and was obviously limited in his eating until he passed droppings....

Faecal testing in this way has no solid science that I am aware of behind it, so is probably best ignored.

I wouldn't be worried.

Thanks for your help alsiola

 

[fatpiggy]

High bilirubin might just be normal to your horse, and it is usually present after a period of stress or hard work Doctors have asked me over the years if I'm an athlete as my resting pulse is 60, WAY lower than what it should be for my (advanced!) age. My mum has a normal body temperature which is a good degree lower than "normal". I'd ignore these tests and concentrate on the causes of your horse's colic - far more useful!

 

[beckieswann]

The vet recommended that he be put onto Protexin - Gut Balancer as she thinks that will definitely help - and I have again noticed a difference in him with that. She thinks it's due to different levels of forage i.e when it rains it pushes the sugar through the grass and that's when he's prone to get colic - and actually there is a pattern there, so by using protexin it'll keep the gut healthy and working which makes sense.

This competition I won is definitely interesting in it's results, but like you say, nothign to get overly worried about.

 

[cptrayes]

In humans high bilirubin level caused by stress is called Gilberts Syndrome and is harmless. Try googling it to reassure yourself. My OH has had it all his life. He's fine, but if he works too hard his eyes go yellow