Liver/itchiness help please!

[missy99]

Hi everyone!
My horse has been really itchy recently and she always has been coming in to/during the winter; she gets itchy in the summer but not nearly as much, and so I really doubt it's sweet itch and she never rubs anything off either. She gets a lot of guard hairs and her coat is much rougher in the winter as well.
I know some people are skeptical... And I was too until I tried it but I had an animal communicator up a couple of weeks ago just for general stuff and one of the things he mentioned was that shes quite 'livery' which is making her itchy and suggested a liver cleanse. Can anyone recommend a good one? Or if they actually work? My horse is an Irish cob mare, roughly 7-8 years old.
Currently feeding - scoop of hifi lite, small scoop of NAF General purpose supplement, small scoop of micronised linseed (does wonders for her coat) twice a day and a large handful of pony nuts in the evening as well
Any help really appreciated!
Thanks
Sophie

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Milk thistle is supposed to be a useful supplement for the liver but I have no expereice of it.

As for the itchness, I would take her off the Hi-Fi, as alfalfa can make some horses itchy. I would also stop the NAF supplement, as I have had horses have a bad reaction to some of their products.

 

[WelshD]

My itchy pony is on a five week course of a product called 'Fight Back' he has been put on a no alfalfa, low sugar diet - all other supplements stopped completely for now

Its too early to say if this has worked long term but short term I am very happy

I would personally see it as a bit of a detox, whether its officially classed as one I don't know

The plan at the end of the course is to get him on Milk thistle, a powder balancer and linseed with the option of adding an allergy supplement but I hope it wont be needed!

 

[curio]

before doing anything i would ask your vet to blood test for raised liver enzymes
, my boy is pretty bad at the moment but milk thistle and global herbs restore (vet prescribe) have been helping him
but he has detoriated this past week
he has been itchy for a couple of years and progressively got worse, treated for sweet itch, mites, lice etc
had blood allergy tests twice came back positive to dust mites and beech
then a year ago rubbing neck biting flanks till they bled, nothing found, last summer doing the same found raised liver enzymes,

was coming good but new years eve extremely itchy has ripped open flanks and rump with teeth, chewed his ribs and shoulders, then got bad odema all over him
he was admitted to the vets and is still there trying to stabilize him his liver enzymes are over 700, but vet thinks hes had an allergic reaction but i don't know what to as nothing has been changed,
he is being pumped full of steroids to combat the itch but is tearing himself apart but the odema is going down.
I am considering whether or not iam doing the right thing keeping him going and distraught my boy of 18yrs (i have owned all his life) is suffering

 

[albertpetersson6]

I think your horse requires energy and protein in a form that does not rely heavily on liver metabolism in order to reduce the work of the liver. Rations for horses with liver disease should include high levels of soluble carbohydrates and low levels of high biological protein. Avoid Alfalfa, clover, soya and oats as the main sources of energy and protein.
Herbal supplements like liquorice, nettles, dandelion root and turmeric can also help your Horse to cure fast as these supplements are very valuable for liver detoxification.
I agree with Pearlsacarolsinger that Milk thistle (Silymarin) is a very useful supplement and has been proven to protect the liver from damage. The detrimental effects of environmental toxins, drugs and chemotherapy may be countered with this herb.*

 

[missy99]

Thank you everybody! That's really helped I'll look into it and try and get an appointment with the vet
As for curio I really hope your horse gets better! Personally I think you know in your heart whether it's the right thing to put your horse down or not, as you know him best as well I think it's your decision to make, but really hope it won't come to that thank you again everyone for the help!