Protein losing enteropathy.

[AlinFaolan]

I posted this time last year regarding a friends gelding in his mid twenties who was diagnosed with ple, he was put on steroids and against all odds pulled through. Although this really seemed to age him he has been fine all year up until about a week ago, almost the same time of year as last time, bloods show low albumin levels, so he again is on steroids. The vet finds it hard to believe he has been ok all year and is going to speak with a specialist. They are out on very natural grazing on a hill, lots of bracken, gorse and at the moment fungi, he has been on this land most of his life, so anyone go any ideas if there could be something he is eating, or very sensitive to that he would gain access to at this time of year.

 

[ycbm]

I've done some searching and all I can find is cantharidin poisoning from ingesting blister beetles that hatch in late autumn or are found baled into hay. It can cause protein losing enteropathy, apparently.

I can't find any reference to bracken causing it, but it is poisonous and more likely to be eaten when it's still green and the grass is dying back.

.

 

[AlinFaolan]

Thanks ycbm, bracken did cross my mind, but I thought it was fairly unpalatable.