- Joined
- 26 July 2008
- Messages
- 21,432
Don't yours check this when vaccinating? I've had a heart murmur picked up at tetanus booster appointment.
Too thin horse - blood test?
- Thread starter ycbm
- Start date
- Joined
- 26 July 2008
- Messages
- 21,432
Oh. Weird, mine always do, I thought it was standard in which case at least you'd be spared that on the bill 😮
- Joined
- 14 April 2014
- Messages
- 460
Hmmm, our vet doesn't, just asks if everything is ok, jabs them and goes...
Mine always do too, I have to say that I thought it was standard.
I've also seen the weight loss from a heart irregularity so definitely worth checking along with bloods YCBM. Although Ludo does have a big frame that will be carrying more muscle mass than in previous years so he could just be using a lot my more energy intrinsically
I've also seen the weight loss from a heart irregularity so definitely worth checking along with bloods YCBM. Although Ludo does have a big frame that will be carrying more muscle mass than in previous years so he could just be using a lot my more energy intrinsically
Mine always does, too. Not just one vet, all the ones from my practice do this. I assumed everyone did
- Joined
- 13 November 2012
- Messages
- 6,819
I'm not sure if the standard liver check would catch it but worth treating for liver fluke?
Might be worth getting your vets to just run a general screening panel if you’re worried? Usually works out more cost effective than getting all the individual tests and then they can use the same blood sample to run a more thorough profile if anything flags up as abnormal.
- Joined
- 18 April 2015
- Messages
- 1,211
Selenium?
This made me lol. I virtually have a 2 stage vetting done at vaccs visit - eyes, heart and trot up all done.
In fairness my vet knows us far too well and I think in the 6 years I've had madam I've only ever once had 1 year where I had a visit just for vaccination
Anyway, sorry OP I digress.
Vets can run a standard blood panel which will look at different things, they'd be able to advise if there's anything specific to test for but otherwise I'd just go for standard panel which (with my vets at least) includes liver/kidney function. Pretty sure I've had it flag up (anti-?)inflammatory responses in the past too (can't remember if that's red or white blood cells doing funky things, sorry)
Otherwise yes, I'd also ask for a listen to the heart.
In fairness my vet knows us far too well and I think in the 6 years I've had madam I've only ever once had 1 year where I had a visit just for vaccination
Anyway, sorry OP I digress.
Vets can run a standard blood panel which will look at different things, they'd be able to advise if there's anything specific to test for but otherwise I'd just go for standard panel which (with my vets at least) includes liver/kidney function. Pretty sure I've had it flag up (anti-?)inflammatory responses in the past too (can't remember if that's red or white blood cells doing funky things, sorry)
Otherwise yes, I'd also ask for a listen to the heart.
- Joined
- 13 November 2012
- Messages
- 6,819
Knew a horse get fluke on a yard where there were no sheep at the time and no recent history of sheep as far as I was aware. It was a wet year though. Main symptom was weight loss. Horse still bright in himself. Not my horse so I don't know more detail. No other horse got it.
just on the fluke thing, there’s an antibody test for it which is more reliable than the fecal test. I had this done on bear as the treatment that truly works Against fluke (resistance has become more common) is quite brutal on the horse, so you want to have a good reason to make the decision to do it.
When I had a liverfluke test it had to go to Liverpool as they are one of the few places than can test for it. It was done as part of liver work up.
- Joined
- 13 November 2012
- Messages
- 6,819
Ah, I couldn't remember if there was a test for it that was difficult/expensive and you just treat or whether it was that the treatment was difficult. I knew there was something. Wish I could remember the conversation I had with the horse's owner better. It was 5 or 6 years ago now though.
- Joined
- 20 February 2017
- Messages
- 3,639
The main things to get:
Kidney panel - particularly creatinine/proteins and glucose, electrolytes probably included too
Liver panel - ALT and bilirubin would be the main things on this to pay attention too
blood counts for WBCs (you could do erythrocytes too though,
ACTH for cushings, or whatever the other one is called - TRH ? if in doubt in a young horse get both done. It's not likely at his age but sadly not impossible.
For a horse with unexplained steady weight loss those would be what I would want checked. I list the specific things to pay attention too because I actually I think what is included probably depends on vet/lab being used.... I've only ever had blood tests done a few times and always for very specific things (cushings mostly) so honestly don't know what's 'standard', although I know you said you'd do liver/kidneys.
Can't comment on the worming stuff, don't know enough about it. Heart is worth getting checked though as arrythmias can cause weight loss anything iirc would be more likely to be quite dramatic if it got suddenly more severe rather than gradual loss of condition .
ETA plainly my nerd side came out a bit writing this. However, whilst it is hopefully just something simple like increased caloric needs due to growth/muscle mass increase/stress at barn arrangements, fundamentally no harm is going to come out of getting physical checks done too. Plus it will give you an idea of his baseline should any further issues arise in future.
Kidney panel - particularly creatinine/proteins and glucose, electrolytes probably included too
Liver panel - ALT and bilirubin would be the main things on this to pay attention too
blood counts for WBCs (you could do erythrocytes too though,
ACTH for cushings, or whatever the other one is called - TRH ? if in doubt in a young horse get both done. It's not likely at his age but sadly not impossible.
For a horse with unexplained steady weight loss those would be what I would want checked. I list the specific things to pay attention too because I actually I think what is included probably depends on vet/lab being used.... I've only ever had blood tests done a few times and always for very specific things (cushings mostly) so honestly don't know what's 'standard', although I know you said you'd do liver/kidneys.
Can't comment on the worming stuff, don't know enough about it. Heart is worth getting checked though as arrythmias can cause weight loss anything iirc would be more likely to be quite dramatic if it got suddenly more severe rather than gradual loss of condition .
ETA plainly my nerd side came out a bit writing this. However, whilst it is hopefully just something simple like increased caloric needs due to growth/muscle mass increase/stress at barn arrangements, fundamentally no harm is going to come out of getting physical checks done too. Plus it will give you an idea of his baseline should any further issues arise in future.
Last edited:
I haven't read all the responses in full - I skimmed them and there seemed to be a lot of different ideas, so I just thought I would post with my own experience in case it is of any use. My mare that I owned for 30 years was 3/4 TB and I assume something like Connie as there was definitely pony in her and she came from Ireland. Anyway, for the first 12 years I had her, and more so in her earlier days, I struggled to keep the weight on her over winter. Looking back I think she just worried it off. Once she moved to the last livery yard I had her on, for the last 18 years of her life, and with a good friend as YO, we never had a problem again. In fact we had to watch her weight in the summer. If Ludo is a sensitive soul, he may just be a bit worried about the whole situation with Deza. If all the physical tests and processes prove nothing, that might be something to think about.
- Joined
- 28 March 2011
- Messages
- 38,248
I don’t get on with feeding oil if he was mine iI would give him 300 grams of linseed and a kilo of oats twice a day and his grass cubes and forage and watch what happens .
do you soak the grass cubes ?
do you soak the grass cubes ?
This was part of a full work up and biopsy after the liver enzymes were up and didn't respond to normal supplementation. RVC can do a lot of tests in house but I remember the liverfluke had to go off to Liverpool. I don't think it cost more that usual blood tests but a lot more than a worm count. Everything came back clear so didn't need treatment but normal wormers don't work and I think they have to use something off licence.
If he was mine and I was really worried I'd get a full blood panel done to cover all of the most common issues. Is he drinking enough?? Kidney problems could potentially cause weight loss, and I see you have ruled out ulcers.
Could you add beet to the grass nuts?? Rex isn't in work but didn't put on any real condition on the nuts alone (he did have balancer added) so now he has 50/50 soaked nuts/molasses free beet plus balancer....he's improved since the beet was added. He has hay though, not haylage.
Could you add beet to the grass nuts?? Rex isn't in work but didn't put on any real condition on the nuts alone (he did have balancer added) so now he has 50/50 soaked nuts/molasses free beet plus balancer....he's improved since the beet was added. He has hay though, not haylage.
- Joined
- 16 January 2006
- Messages
- 4,464
How old is he, possibly just a growth spurt?
- Joined
- 2 February 2014
- Messages
- 2,343
About blood tests - I would speak to the vet and see what they recommend