Tapeworm/liver problems

sanchob

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Advice wanted





I’ve made a couple of posts about a few things to do with my baby recently, but thought I’d just make a clearer one now. I have a lovely 18 month old colt who I bred so know all of his history. He was tested for Tapeworm 3 weeks ago which came back high, normal worm count was low. The day before I double dosed him with strongid p he had a touch of spasmodic colic, vet came out gave him some pain relief and said to worm him the next day as that was probably the reason for the colic. Last week he had a touch of colic again (2 weeks after worming) vet came back out gave him more pain relief and said he possibly still has Tapeworm and needs something stronger, he took bloods as well as I was concerned how quiet he was. Bloods came back on Friday everything normal but had elevated GGT levels, vet has told me to put him on Legaphyton and milk thistle for a while to help his liver, I’ve also ordered some Mycosorb as have read about mycotoxins possibly affecting his liver, he has a handful of simple systems timothy chop as that’s the only feed I can get him to eat, he is incredibly fussy! and soaked hay. My vet is a bit baffled as to what is causing it or if it could possibly be related to the high Tapeworm result, he will have another blood test in 2 weeks. He has a good appetite still, no jaundice, poos are all normal for him, I would say he hasn’t lost any weight he has always been a bit ribby and lanky looking, but definitely has a slight pot belly look. He hasn’t had any more episodes of colic since Friday ?? but still looks tired, and I’ve heard him have a dry cough twice but not sure if that’s dust related as he does suffer with allergies. 3 weeks ago he was like a rocket with tonnes of energy! A few people have mentioned liver fluke to me on here, Would that make his GGT levels high? I have ordered a testing kit for it but have been told it’s hard to test for it that way, I’ll do it anyway as I’ve paid for it now, but will definitely ask my vet about it and whether he thinks we should treat him just incase. The land has never been grazed by sheep or cows and we don’t have any close by, and it’s higher up so drains well and isn’t ever really puddly, apart from last week when it poured it down. Fields are regularly poo picked and well maintained no ragwort, all the other horses we’ve had in the same field are all absolutely fine. I’m just really worried as I’ve googled and scared myself that he is still infested with Tape or that he has a really bad liver problem. Sorry for the long post and thank you for reading!
 

SEL

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Vet can organise a blood test for liver fluke too although I treated for it speculatively after ongoing high GGT levels. They did start to slowly improve but that could have been due to a yard move / change of hay etc.

Hope you get to the bottom of it. I've heard of lots of high tape tests this year.
 

Orangehorse

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I had a horse dosed for liver fluke, the vet used a cattle product, said it wouldn't do any harm and it might be the solution. This is years ago before there were many blood tests (well actually the vet said why waste your money, but he was an old fashioned sort).

How long have you had the pony? It might be something he has been carrying for ages.
 
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