horse steroids

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melissa1971

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Has anyones horse had to go on steroids long term????

what are the side effects of this and how is the horse while on steroids??

thanks
 
Hi! look at my post titled Prednisolone a few days ago and the replies. There are a few folk with experience of steriods.
 
As bb - laminitis is a recognised side effect but I think it has to be quite a high dosage. Dunno if it's the same with horses but in humans long term high dosage steroids cause weight gain and osteoporosis. I'd ring your vets and get them to explain all the pros and cons. It amazes me that they don't do this on a regular basis, ie explain everything. If I was a vet, I'd have Fact Sheets on common illnesses, side effects of drugs etc etc but there you go.
 
We have a 14.1hh pony on the yard who is having 80 steroid tablets every morning due to a suspected lymphoma somewhere in his system. He has gone from a hat rack to holding his own and his appetite and ability to buck and show off have improved remarkably.

The dosage is low, however it could pose a small risk of laminitis. To us it is worth it as this is Tango's last hope and we have nothing to lose.
 
thank you all, its not def that he will have to go on them yet just waiting for more test results,
if it shows that he is not abosorbing protien into his body he will have to go on them so i will be asking lots of questions.
 
The horse that Llwyncwn mentions above is being treated with steroids after rapid unexplained weight loss. A blood test showed he was not absorbing protein and the prognosis is guarded at the moment. What has happened to your ned spyder? Is he a veteran/grey? Has he had weight loss? Trying to find out as much info as poss to try to help Tango mentioned above xxx
 
It amazes me how, so many people are aware that large doses of steroids in humans causes weight gain and osteoperosis.
My doctor to this day still remains adamant it doesnt. Im living proof it does!
x
 
he started in Dec with rapid weight loss, he has lost all his muscle. to start with he was having colic like symptoms every other day, he had bloods taken to check his liver which came back showing slightly low protein, when i sent a poo sample to be checked for worms the vet noticed it looked like there was a lot of undigested food in it.
So now she is thinking that his body is not absorbing protein, we tryed to test the other day by tubing glucose into his stomach then taking bloods every half hour to see if it was getting round his body, anyway he got too worked up and we couldnt manage it, but is coming back out this week when my husband and the male vet can both be the to help. she did take more bloods for testing so will get results from them on monday so im hoping they show something,
I will let you know how we get on..
 
One on the things we have noticed over the last 8 days he's been on Prednisolone is that he is really perky. He has a heart condition so should be kept calm and we have him turned out into a small (8 metres by 6 metres) sectioned off paddock for 3 hours every day. Problem is he doesn't know he should be kept calm and bucks, rears, does 180's for the first few mins each day - this almost stops my heart never mind his. Vet says this steriod is known as a "feel good" drug. Have also noticed that every few days he is ever so slightly unsteady on his feet so leans hard into you when doing his feet.
 
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