Sad news about my old pony

[No1_in_particular]

He has been loosing weight over the period of about 6 weeks, not keen to eat any feed - still loves hay and grass but not keen at all on any hard feed. Vet was out yesterday to do his teeth and took blood samples. It turns out he has serious liver damage......
Vet feels that he's fine to pad about the field until he deteriorates..... I just wish there was more I could do for him.
I'm totally gutted I've had him for 15 years.......

 

[nobbster]

awww big hugs x

 

[ldlp111]

oh so sorry to hear that did the vet give a reason?

 

[No1_in_particular]

Just age. He is in his 20's......
f he hadn't lost weight he's be perfect . his nature is still the same and he's still dragging me all over the place when I'm leading him lol...... His coat is healthy but his liver just isnt.....
As long as he isn't in pain and is not weak 'm happy for him to be out and about munchin with his pet shetland..

 

[dufffy]

i'm so sorry pretty much the exact same thing happened to me 3 years ago with my little pony i'd had for 14 years we tried giving her suppliments etc but she just slowly got worse and sadly we had to make the horrible decision to have her pts. i dearly hope things dont go the same way for your ponio but spend as much time as you can with him thats my biggest regret that i didnt spend as much time with her as i should of.

*hugs*

 

[brighteyes]

Don't give up yet - my friend's pony has been given another lease of life when started on a low dose of steroids. She was literally at death's door and I must stress that trying this course of action really was a kill or cure and last ditch attempt to kick start her weight/appetite problems. The pony was suffering from inappetance (I hesitate to say anorexia as the pony seemed to want to eat, but stopped short of actually tucking in - how pitiful was that to watch!) but was never depressed

Maybe the liver is affected by a virus and simply needs a rest or some tonic? Get stuck into research and run anything you find past your vet.

I'd have put very good money on the pony being pts but the steroids (handle with care, I know) turned her round completely. She is early 20's, Welsh A.

 

[bailey14]

Sorry to hear that. You might like to try the supplement herb milk thistle as this is a good aid for liver problems. Ring NAF and see if they can help you or google milk thistle, horses for more info.


From Wikipedia:

Toxin-induced Liver Damage - Research suggests that milk thistle extracts both prevent and repair damage to the liver from toxic chemicals and medications. Workers who had been exposed to vapors from toxic chemicals (toluene and/or xylene) for 5-20 years were given either a standardized milk thistle extract (80% silymarin) or placebo for 30 days.[22] The workers taking the milk thistle extract showed significant improvement in liver function tests (ALT and AST) and platelet counts vs. the placebo group.

The efficacy of silymarin in preventing drug-induced liver damage in patients taking psychotropic drugs long-term has been investigated .[23] This class of drugs is known to cause liver damage from oxidation of lipids. Patients taking silymarin in the study had less hepatic damage from the oxidation of lipids than patients taking the placebo.

 

[kellyeaton]

i had a horse with liver diease/ faliure milk thistle is brilliant for the liver as well as vit b and vi sorbin. If you can get your horse to eat it has to be very low protin. if you would like to pm on anything else please do so i will try and help as much as i can!

 

[No1_in_particular]

Thanks for your comments - i'm looking into everything just now..... He seems really perky tonight and i feel a little relieved knowing it's not my fault he doesn't like his dinner - I've tried him on everything - He even ate some 16+ and a wee drop course mix which i know has too much protein but at least he has eaten some hard feed

my vet is calling back tomorrow with a diet plan so i'll mention what you guys have said and anything else i can find tonight.
Thanks so much for all your help