liver damage

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punk

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Hi - sometime ago someone posted about problems with liver damage.
I have a Welsh Sect A, diagnosed with liver damage at the age of 22. After a biopsy it was confirmed and the vet suggested pts.
A friend suggested trying Remount - a liver tonic supplied by Triple Crown. She has never looked back and is still enjoying life (even light hunting) with the umpteenth small child at the age of 32!
 
that's great! a story with a happy ending. thanks for the tip.
smile.gif
 
Thanks for your response! It really is good stuff! Probably need to take it myself!
Just thought it might be of interest to anyone out there as I have many contacts who swear by it. The advertising of it used to be "If in doubt - Remount" and it certainly seems to give horses a lift going into the winter months - particularly veterans.
Just a note - I have no connections with the company - just a satisfied customer!!!!!!!
 
Hi punk. That's really interesting coz I had to do a massive amount of research very, very fast when I took on Angel. She had severe ragwort poisoning and only a tiny tiny % of functioning liver left. The vets said pts was the most humane thing to do but she perked up a little when she suddenly found herself properly cared for and surrounded by tlc (tlc and top notch nursing can do wonders for a very sick horse). So we decided to give her a chance and brought the heavy guns out. I had personal advice from Professor Derek Knottenbelt of Liverpool University and Dr Theresa Holland of D&H. The Prof is a world expert on liver disease/damage in horses and he is working very closely with D&H to develop a diet that will support a damaged liver and minimise the work it has to do. The advice is ALWAYS to immediately start a low protein diet, and what protein the horse does have should be of the highest quality. In addition, B vits (Yea Sac is good) aid hind gut digestion which is normally compromised in liver damaged horses. Yea Sac is also a mild appetite stimulant as one of the symptoms of liver damage (as I'm sure you know) is a poor appetite/weight loss. Finally, Milk Thistle has been anecdotally proven to support the liver and, during the summer, ragwort poisoned horses need to be stabled during the day as they develop severe photosensitivity.

All this has worked {{{touches wood}}} magic for Angel and though her liver can never recover (the alkaloids in ragwort permanently damage the cells) she has enough working liver to be a happy, insurable, active riding horse.

Do you know what's in Remount punk? I just wouldn't want people to think liver damage = Remount = everything ok again! Please everyone, think liver damage = vets, then low protein diets, no summer sun, milk thistle, B vits and ONLY THEN any other commercially available supplements advertised as supporting the liver. So glad your ponio has shown that sometimes you can tear up the text book and I hope she lives another 10 years lol xxx
 
from 'punk' (actually that's the name of my horse - I am middle aged mother with endless horse 'experience'!!)
So sorry to hear about your horse. Don't think my pony was quite as bad, although vet reckoned extensive ragwort poisoning (possibly many years before we got her). She was 'head pressing', generally lethargic and off her feed. Many other symptoms as well, but generally, as you say, with lots of TLC, and the Remount she recovered. Don't know what real part the Remount played, and would never claim that it is miracle cure - just a help. Triple Crown don't seem to sell it any more, but Snuggy Hoods do and have e-mailed them for the ingredients - will let you know.
As I say I have known many top eventers etc who have used it as a general tonic or for liver problems - it seems to boost the system. Probably not supposed to promote brands on this site - just realised! Just trying to help!
 
Well hi punk's-mum! Imagined you as 17 with spiky hair and a ton of attitude! Bit like my Angel really! That's such good news about your ponio! Angel was terribly badly burned, thin, wretched, lost all interest in life and was at the standing in the corner waiting to die stage, poor love. She hadn't quite started head pressing but I reckon another week and that would have been it. The blood results were so dreadful the vets said pts would be kindest but my YO has a ton of experience rescuing horses and she said hold on - horses KNOW when their life has changed and they often try to rally. Angel is a gipsy cob and as hard as nails (well, she likes to pretend she is!) which I think helped her hugely.

Did you alter your ponio's diet at all? Coz Angel has now pretty much recovered as far as she ever will, like your ponio. I got top notch advice from wherever it was available just to understand what was happening to her body and try to help her. I was just a bit worried that people would think oh livers shmivers, all we need is Remount and ned will be fine. The awful reality, as we know, is often very different and many neds don't make it. Angel will always only have a tiny % of functioning liver but aside from that and keeping her out of the sun, she's "just" an ordinary horse now! She came 1st in her 1st ever walk and trot dressage test last Sunday bless her and looked stunning (if you like coloured gipsy cobs lol) so fingers crossed she will live as long as your ponio. I feel so sad for those neds that don't make it.

Lovely nattering Punk's-mum - would have PM-ed but thought others might like to know that ragwort poisoned horses CAN be saved but so much depends on the horse, the level of the damage and doing everything to support the remaining liver function. xxx
 
My mare had a foal in July, I had to wean at 3 half months old as my mare had serious reaction to the sunlight ( I had to keep them out as she was not happy with foal in stable). Vet did routine bloods and came back and told me that her liver function was v bad and to expect her to die within days- very shocked as she showed no signs excpet the skin problem. Anyway she went on antibiotics for 3 weeks (very expensive) and I fed her very well even though she was not loosing weight. Spoke with vet about having her pts before she suffered. 6 weeks on she is very well, Her weight is very good, clipped out and started work again.
I thought I would share this as when she was diagnosed I trawled the internet and only found bad news stories. I don't want to give anyone false hope but sometimes just have faith and you never know!
 
It's worth repeating that you need to support liver damaged horses by feeding them a LOW PROTEIN diet. WHat protein they DO have should be of the highest quality you can buy. The liver handles the protein the horse eats: more protein = more work and a failing liver can't handle it or break it down so all sorts of stuff ends up circulating in the blood that shouldn't be there and this is what eventually causes neurological damage. It's tempting to stuff a horse that is losing weight with the most calories you can cram into them but this will do even more damage. The golden rule is LOW PROTEIN diet, Milk Thistle (proven to support liver function - D&H do an excellent dried one in a tub for about £12), B vitamins to aid hind gut digestion (Yea Sac is good as it is a mild appetite stimulant too) and keep them out of the sun. Stir in tlc, excellent nursing, keep your fingers crossed and it is possible to save these horses.
 
Hi Box of Frogs!,
This is the reply I got from Badminton fees - not very helpful, but feel sure it probably includes Milk Thistle?!

"Dear Sarah,
Yes Triple Crown is now part of the Badminton range and Remount is the same product as its always been, a blend of organically grown herbs to aid liver function. See our website www.badmintonfeeds.co.uk.
Regards
Chrissy Keer
Badminton Feeds
Promotions Manager
01425 658450"
 
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