Testing field for toxins? - also in NL

little_critter

little_critter

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In August my mare had a blood test which showed high levels of liver enzymes.
As she was otherwise fit and well the vet suggested we retest a month later to see which way the levels were going. The 2 monthly tests after the initial one showed her levels going down and was nearly back to normal.
Got results for the last one back yesterday and they've started going up again. Both me and the vet are pretty sure it's NOT ragwort poisining.
She has recently moved back into the same field she was in when she had her initial high test result - she was in different fields when her levels were coming down.
It may be a coincidence but I'm wondering if there's something in the soil/grass causing the problems.
Is it possible to test the soil in the field? What would you test for and who would do it?
Sorry for the long post - any ideas welcome.
 
I think you should be looking at a liver biopsy for your mare first and foremost. It's the only way to properly rule out ragwort. Then there is a good chance it will show whether it is an infectious or toxin related issue.
 
A biopsy is on the radar - while her enzyme levels were going down we weren't too worried but now they've gone back up the vet has suggested a biopsy (in the new year to avoid the Christmas post!)
She did say that the biopsy was unlikely to be able to identify the cause of the problem hence why I was looking at soil testing to see if that gives any clues.
 
does she have access to hedging and bushy plants in the original field? hedge picking/tree eating/acorns will raise the liver enzymes and also photosensitivity on any white socks/pink noses? you can have the soil tested .. phone your local agricultural merchant he will be able to recommend someone. is your grazing good grassy grazing? or sparse weedy fields? have they been fertilized regularly/recently and with what? have the fields been sprayed in last 6 months and with what? and how long was the field rested after treatment? is the grazing overgrazed and horse sick? is the grazing pooh picked daily/regularly? Good luck many factors to consider. i would bet its a hedge/bush thing!
 
Yes she does have access to the hedge - I can't remember what's in it (Other than blackthorn) and will check this morning.
I poo pick every week (all poo removed every time). The grazing is good (as in lots of grass) but there are patches of coarse grass (rye?) which she won't touch. I believe the YO sprays for weeds once every 2 years, not sure about fertiliser. The fields are rested for approx 3 months after 1-2 months grazing.

Texel - thanks for your suggestion of EAM but I think that's a bit OTT, other than her raised liver enzymes (slightly raised - not off the scale) she is not showing any symptoms of being unwell.
 
I too am interested in this as I have been going through something similar with my mare.
From what I understand from the vet her issue seems to be coming from a allergy. She has had since July raised liver enzymes. WE have had a biospy done and it showed that her liver was fine so it looks to be caused from her allergies. We did allergy test on her and she allergic to grass and outdoor allergens of wheat, corn, rye and thr likes.
We think she has eaten something in the field that has caused her system to go mad and we are struggling to get ontop of the allergens.
Has your horse got any allergies?
 
"Has your horse got any allergies? "
....
None that I *know* of, she is a very straightforward, never sick or sorry pony. She isn't showing any signs of allergies - coat is fine, no hives or itching, breathing etc is fine, poos are normal. Other than the liver enzymes she is a 'healthy' pony.

When this issue first came up the vet said that as you don't usually test liver enzymes in healthy horses it's difficult to know what really is 'normal'. Maybe it is normal for levels to fluctuate to some extent.
Will be doing biopsy anyway - if only to put my mind at rest.
Geologist friend has given me the number of someone who could do soil testing.
 
the liver can and does regenerate if damage is not too severe. milk thistle is very good for the liver. and you can get a detox supplement called something like resorb which is good too. good luck let us know the outcome.
 
My pony had a similar thing.
But she showed other signs as in poor performance, grumpy etc.
We suspected the field or some sort if pesticide.
Luckily she improved after treatment.
We just have to get the last blood test done to get the all clear.
 
Hello, I have just been told my 4 year old has an enzyme count of 680, he was tested not becuase he was ill but another horse next door was tested after mudfever in the summer. The vet suggested all horses sahould be tested - Out of 9, 6 have come back with a raised level from ranging from 67 -200 and mine the highest by a wide margin at 680. There is no common factor horses on the same pasture have registered different levels. Horses on the same hay have none or raised levels. My horse looks fine and is turned out with adlib hay. He has no other symptoms, but I am having him retested to see if its a blip. There was some ragwort appearing in their field this summer but I pulled it up on my daily inspections and other horses in the same field have not shown any signs or raised enzyme counts. We dont spray, or fertilise, I just top the field and harrow then rest. There is no common thread to any of the results as all the horses have been on different pasture and feed. I am at a loss to know what's caused his higher reading. I assume I need to have a biospy if the count is still high, it seems the only way to check for ragwort poisioning, as we have no hedges around the field.
 
Surprised to see this thread resurface!
Just an update, after the initial test in August my mares liver tests had been improving each month until the test in late November which went back up again. She is having a liver biopsy on Thursday to see in we can get to the bottom of it - or at least rule out anything serious.
Jackieprice - what's happened on your yard sounds very similar to ours, we can't come up with a common cause.
The YO said she did soil testing and it all came back clear (but I might do my own for my own peace of mind) I will ask the vet on Thursday if there's any testing he can suggest.
 
Thanks "little critter" for the reply, its all a bit worrying as my young horse whom I bred came out with such a high reading. My friends horse on the yard who really was the catalyst for all this has had a Biopsy and is on a course of steriods which are pretty expensive. I spoke with my vet today and she says that's probably what we will have to do as the emzyme is produced when the liver is under attack. The test shows how much liver function has been damaged notwhat has caused it. She did say that the next test pre Biopsy often shows a marker for ragwort if that is the cause but in my friends case we are no further forward as no marker was showing. Its all a bit of a mystery - I di wonder if its Liver fluke as the land was used for cattle and Liver fluke was present but the vet seems to think not?
 
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