Please help- Liver and leg problems

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

My beloved Dexter looked like he was developing ringworm 2 weeks ago. Vet came- thought i was right but also thought Dex didnt look as good overall as he normally does so did a routine blood test to see if he was anaemic etc. Bloods came back with high liver enzymes Last Saturday, the liver function test confirmed 2nd degree liver failure Last Monday he had a liver biopsy and the results came back this morning. It doesnt look like ragwort poisoning (phew- he was a rescue when i got him) He has active hepatitis prognosis is "guarded for a return to normal hepatic function" He is on 3 supplements from the vet inc milk thistle, low protein diet, restricted grazing. He seemed to be perking up after the first couple of days BUT yesterday evening i noticed he was starting to get swollen legs behind. I didnt worry too much as he had broken out of his paddock and stuffed his face on lush grass- this always results in fat legs and it normally disappears after 24 hours back in fat camp. I noticed his front legs have also blown up today. The swelling is hard, no damage or serum oozing out. It puffs out from just below knee/hock and curves back in at the fetlock leaving the pastern relatively normal. He is slightly stiff but not lame and his temperature is normal. Vet and i think its cellulitis BUT i am worrying myself silly with "what ifs"

Anyone had fat legs at the same time as liver problems? On Monday, they are blood testing for tapeworms. I think we should also test for liver fluke- even Lyme disease. SOMETHING in his system is aggravating his liver as the hepatitis is so active. Oh and he is covered with nasty ringworm which is being treated with a special body wash.

Vet said we must cherish the liver as "when we run out of liver, we run out of Dexter"

 

[cm2581]

Phone the global herbs helpline - you may even get them today. If anybody can help them its them. It won't hurt to try. There restore liver tonic is amazing. Good luck and I hope he's ok.

www.globalherbs.co.uk

 

[Patches]

Here was me thinking "Yay" when I read it wasn't ragwort poisoning!

Gah...he is really going through the mill isn't he?

As you know, we're suffering with liver fluke in our dairy herd at the moment. Did you suffer with any flooding on your summer grazing last year? Our vets have now determined that's how/why it's happened to our heifers. The neighbouring land owner had a problem with his drainage last year which flooded a field our heifers were on. The fluke like still water and it's common after flooding to have an outbreak. I am treating my horses with Fasinex, as a precaution, every 3 - 6 months. We didn't suffer the flooding on the horse paddocks and neither did the land they were on over winter (the heifers hadn't been on the land the horses grazed over winter either), but I've decreed it's better to be safe than sorry.

Best of luck with Dexter's treatment. I really hope he comes back fully fit for you.

 

[Jazzyb]

My friend has just had very similar problem with her horse.
She started getting swollen legs and little scabs appeared. As she was also experiencing weight loss the vet completed a blood test and her enzymes were extremley high, they then completed the biopsy and she had chronic liver failure. It was not caused by ragwort so they think it was a fungus in the grazing that they were on as the other 4 horses in the field also had very high liver enzymes. :-(
Are any of the other horses on the grazing looking poorly?

 

[brucea]

Worth thinking about increasing copper and zinc supplementation - I know it can help recovery from ringworm.

Milk thistle is great - leaf, seeds and all. Liver just takes time to regenerate.

Also possibly a neem wash for the ringworm may help.

 

[iconique]

Yes, we had much the same with a mare a few years ago, she had the high results, not ragwort, but unkown cause of infection (RVC were involved)

We did a few months on antibiotics, low protein diet, milk thistle (insurance paid for hepatacyl) echinecha.

Then suddenly her legs filled (both hinds and one front - not quite so bad filling) it was diagnosed as lymphangitis - we believe it was related to the liver and the fact her system wasn't working - but the insurance saw it as another problem so we were able to make a seperate claim
Walking, hosing, bandaging if in overnight, even heat pads, we've had continued problems with them filling but she is well and we have to make sure she doesn't stand too long (this includes immobility in the field where she just stands and eats!), we are very aware and as she's now 20 (16hh TBxID) we take every day as it comes with regard to leg treatement - our vet doesn't understand why it still happens as he thinks it shouldn't. Protein does also affect her legs.

Just read the original date on this, perhapsyou could update us on how Dexter is?