High liver enzymes in a herd

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renlikhs

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Hi, my horses have completely flummoxed vets so I'm just wondering if anyone has experienced this and has any insight.

4 of my horses (3 x 2yo cobs, 1 6yo clydesdale cross) are turned out together on a nice field (no ragwort/toxic plants) all are in good condition, well looked after and wormed up to date.

2 weeks ago one of the youngsters had what can only please described as a partial seizure, vet attended as we wanted to rule out azateria so ran bloods. Unexpectedly bloods came back with high liver enzymes but ok liver function. Another of the youngsters seemed to have particularly itchy skin this year which until these results was put down to sensitive skin (sweet itch ruled out). During the hot spell this got markedly worse. In light of the other horses bloods we decided to test his liver too and again he's come back with high liver enzymes so now it is believed this is causing him to be photosensitive, something that is getting progressively worse. He is now being treated with steroids. I've now had the other 2 tested and they too have raised liver enzymes and 1 is showing minor symptoms that we are now assuming are also down to this.

My vet is at an utter loss as to what could be causing this. At the moment they're working on the assumption that something in the field is toxic although myself and the vet have no idea what. They are being removed from the pasture this weekend and will be having their levels checked again in 3-4 weeks to see if they drop.

Vet thinks it's unlikely to be liver fluke as we are not in the right type of area for it.

I've been advised that I could have field soil tested by this can be hit and miss to get reliable results do they don't think it's worth it at this point.

Has anyone any experience of something similar? Can anyone shed some light on this as I'm pulling my hair out!

All insight welcome!
 
It's not really been the weather for it but mycotoxin can cause issues (and is part of some of the issues with clover because it provides a nice damp under layer)

I feel for you having been walking the field in october (not a lot of the 'possibles' list growing then though!) when my boy went photosensitive.

I would think there has to be something, identifiying it might not be possible and even if you do eliminating it might be even more problematic. you may want to look back through some old threads of KatPTs as she had a similar situ on her yard with multiple horses testing with issues. I don't think they ever really identified why.

Are you feeding anything liver supportive?
 
Do you have access to the land maps, if so check out if any foul sewage pipes are underground, if so tell whoever owns the pipes you want a cctv of the sewage pipes to see if there are any breaks or cracks due to tree roots or anything else, you will have to fight them but trust me its well worth fighting to rule it out if any foul sewage pipes pass under ground as an easement for yours or anyone else's sewage

First thing I noticed years ago apart from some bizarre illnesses which no-one could really explain (Itching, laminitis and liver problems etc) was a large area of bright green grass growing like a big tear drop, I only noticed when I stood on a hill and looked down. So much grass/soil testing was done but it really can be looking for a needle in a haystack

Just check out what is underground, if you find there is a foul sewage drain create merry hell until they do a cctv and make sure you look at the cctv as they don't always like to tell you what they find
 
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