Please help. What do I do??? Liver damaged pony..

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Isobelleizzy

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There is a pony that I have "adopted" if you will. You can see every single bone in his body, he's starving, he's dehydrated, he's been on his own in a small pen for months, he looks worm ridden, covered in rain scald, he's covered in cuts from trying to get out of his pen cause he's that hungry. I have never in all my years seen such a state. He's had a truly truly miserable time. Ive brought him in, fed him, watered him, give him a clean bed, brushed him and loved him. His "owner" had the vet out the other week before I took him in and said he has chronic liver damage. I have put him on a high fibre low protein diet and kept him in in the day as others have stated. And literally just bought some milk thistle and yea sacc. He is now as bright as a little button. Although he still looks horrific. The "owner" is now saying it is to be put to sleep thus week.

What do I do? Do I offer to buy him and give him a proper chance or just go along with what she says and let it be pts? He just hadn't had a hope or chance in Jesus to even try to get better kept the way he was. Please don't lecture on the responsibilities of looking after a poorly pony long term. I'm quite aware.

I've got to give him a chance right?? We all deserve a proper chance don't we???
 
If you are able and willing to look after him, and if the vet thinks there's a reasonable prognosis then offer a nominal sum for him.

If the owner is willing to pay for a vet to come out, I'm a bit puzzled as to how they allowed the pony to get in such a state :confused:.
 
Having had a horse with liver failure, I know how bad they can look and I had to struggle to get him to eat!
With this pony, if it is young and the liver damage is less than 75% I would give it a chance as the liver can recover, but if it is more than this percentage it can not, so the kindest thing would be to pts now!
I am sorry for you, it is horrible to see them like this.
 
If you are seriously thinking of taking on the long term responsibility for a pony who sounds to be in a very poor way, and have taken into account the financial and emotional implications, then I think I'd do the following:

Approach the owner with your idea, and say that it would be subject to being able to see the pony's recent veterinary history (especially blood results or biopsy results) and being able to speak to the vet about extent of damage, reversibility and prognosis.

Depending on what was tested, they should be able to say which enzyme levels indicate ongoing or previous liver damage, and also to give an idea of whether the liver's function has been affected or not (sounds as though it may well have been affected). A liver can be badly damaged but still working ok. However if it's not working efficiently, the prognosis becomes worse, so you do need to bear that in mind and weigh up the pro's and cons.

If everything suggests that the pony has the possibility of a decent quality of life, then go ahead and offer a nominal sum, but in the knowledge that you may have many vets bills to foot, together with ongoing costs trying to help improve the pony's condition and that it may or may not become well enough to have a good life or to be ridden.

Liver disease can be a b****r to get to the bottom of.

Sarah
 
Thanks for your advice. Its just so heartbreaking as he is terribly malnourished which makes it hard to tell the real effects of the liver damage. Eating is not the problem - he's was starving and been making very short work of all his haynet and his frequent small meals. Although his appetite is less frantic now. Hes been drinking fine and has been passing fluids and solids normally. His gums are a healthy pink. Hes been having snoozes. He's not lethargic or disorientated - he loves a fuss. He looks 100% better for having a good drink and a few meals in his tummy. I have been told the damage is over 75% which as I understand is a very poor outlook. He is only 9 the poor little sod. I totally just don't know what to do. It's such a shame as he's had a terrible time and honestly it's because I feel desperately sorry for him.
 
Well, if the results show that there is so much damage he should be PTS, at least you are giving him a few days of loving care and good feeding so he is "happy" at the moment, so take comfort from that.
 
With that much damage, I think PTS, sorry :( It might be prolonging the suffering to keep him going. Ask the vet if he thinks it's feasible, but 75% damage sounds like the liver may not regenerate enough and long term problems will be evident pretty soon. :(
 
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