Katelouise
Member
I have a 6 year old Irish cob
Following bloods for a a virus, bloods showed his liver enzymes were high. Mild hepatitis and fibrosis diagnosed.
Liver biopsy, liver tonic and two rounds of steroids with a month break in between, and his enzymes have come down but his fibrosis is still high. My vet suspects more is going on and the liver issues is a secondary issue, not a problem with the actual liver. We are now testing for EMS as he has fat desposits and always seems so hungry.
Question is around feeding. He is a typical good doer. In winter he has 9kg of forage, in summer he is on overnight turnout and reduced soaked hay in the day.
He also suffers from mallanders so is on the m&s powered balancer, a handful of thunderbrooks healthy herbal chaff, electrolytes, vitamin E and milk thistle. He is turned out overnight (pink skinned and also only just 6 so like him out being a horse rather than stuck in. Also with liver iknow they can get issues with photosensitisation.
The issues I'm having us what helps one thing hinders another.
Steroids have helped his liver enzymes come down but make his mallanders worse
The m&s balancer has been great for his legs but includes linseed which is not good for weight gain and balancer also high in protein which isn't good for his liver.
Other low cal balancers include by biotin/soya which I'm trying to avoid
Overnight turnout not good for weight gain but colouring/liver means night better( I think).
In the day he has a section of soaked Timothy hay with his breakfast then same again for lunch then dinner and turned out. I bought a thinline muzzle but so far have struggled to get it to fit properly so still trying to adjust. Good covering of grass but short so not sure he'll be able to get much with the muzzle.
Ridden 5 days a week, good varied workload including private lessons, hacking and flatwork/poles etc.
I am struggling with what to feed that helps the liver but doesn't hinder his legs. Looking at alternatives to the m&s balancer so I can avoid the linseed but also want to avoid biotin due to his knees.. other than the muzzle, not sure what more I can do for weight loss as he if very cresty and has fat pouches on the shoulder. He is always very hungry too, big door kicker and drags me to any food he see's.
Anyone with similar situation or any feeding advise for liver/mallanders very welcome.
Many thanks
Following bloods for a a virus, bloods showed his liver enzymes were high. Mild hepatitis and fibrosis diagnosed.
Liver biopsy, liver tonic and two rounds of steroids with a month break in between, and his enzymes have come down but his fibrosis is still high. My vet suspects more is going on and the liver issues is a secondary issue, not a problem with the actual liver. We are now testing for EMS as he has fat desposits and always seems so hungry.
Question is around feeding. He is a typical good doer. In winter he has 9kg of forage, in summer he is on overnight turnout and reduced soaked hay in the day.
He also suffers from mallanders so is on the m&s powered balancer, a handful of thunderbrooks healthy herbal chaff, electrolytes, vitamin E and milk thistle. He is turned out overnight (pink skinned and also only just 6 so like him out being a horse rather than stuck in. Also with liver iknow they can get issues with photosensitisation.
The issues I'm having us what helps one thing hinders another.
Steroids have helped his liver enzymes come down but make his mallanders worse
The m&s balancer has been great for his legs but includes linseed which is not good for weight gain and balancer also high in protein which isn't good for his liver.
Other low cal balancers include by biotin/soya which I'm trying to avoid
Overnight turnout not good for weight gain but colouring/liver means night better( I think).
In the day he has a section of soaked Timothy hay with his breakfast then same again for lunch then dinner and turned out. I bought a thinline muzzle but so far have struggled to get it to fit properly so still trying to adjust. Good covering of grass but short so not sure he'll be able to get much with the muzzle.
Ridden 5 days a week, good varied workload including private lessons, hacking and flatwork/poles etc.
I am struggling with what to feed that helps the liver but doesn't hinder his legs. Looking at alternatives to the m&s balancer so I can avoid the linseed but also want to avoid biotin due to his knees.. other than the muzzle, not sure what more I can do for weight loss as he if very cresty and has fat pouches on the shoulder. He is always very hungry too, big door kicker and drags me to any food he see's.
Anyone with similar situation or any feeding advise for liver/mallanders very welcome.
Many thanks
