Yearling tape/liver problems

[sanchob]

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!

 

[PurBee]

My liver fluke research made me shudder. They lodge in the liver and block the ducts. Generally caused by wet land, horses drinking from puddles...they come from liver fluke snails...mainly the curly wurly pointy snails...rather than round swirly common garden snails.

As you say your land is sloped and dry, so doesnt sound like an environment where flukes thrive. However, when i researched flukes in sheep from ireland, rates of infection were surprisingly high considering they’re normally grazed on the more hilly Therefore drier, harder to farm or graze cows, parts of land.

Its been about 3 yrs since i researched deeply into flukes but they have been known to infect horses too. i recall being surprised by this common occurance in horses, and wondered why the equine world didnt routinely worm for flukes like we do other parasites? Cow and sheep farmers regularly worm for flukes.

A fluke isnt bothered about a host’s species, it just wants liver, blood, fuel...they can be lodged in the bile ducts for years. They have been known to infect humans too. It’s the primary reason why i dont eat watercress, as how they are grown is prime fluke infested snail evironment!

I read that vets who had horses with flukes would use the drenches used on cows and sheep. So worth getting the vet on board and ask if flukes in horses are something theyve dealt with before.

If you’re certain of the colt never being exposed to ragwort, or any other seriously poisonous forage, like oak, woodland ferns, loads of buttercups, etc...then i would seriously suspect fluke too.

But as you’ve given several wormers for tape, i’d continue with the mycosorb and milk thistle for a while and allow the mycotoxins from any parasite die-off to clear his system before treating any other route. A couple of weeks since worming is roughly the time it takes for all medications/poisons/waste from parasites to fully leave the body In my experience.

The pot belly and ribbiness are both same symptoms for both tape and fluke. Its strange he coliced again after 3 weeks since second worming. I’d still give the chance for the milk thistle and mycosorb To do their job. Does the mycosorb contain probiotics? I’d be giving probiotics too - Protexin is great stuff....they do a high dose emergency syringe, or a tub of powder to add to feed. I give this alongside worming mine to help the gut to keep flowing.

The only other thing id be considering are other poisonous plants causing liver stress....has he been out grazing? Acorns from oak? Holly berries?

Its good he’s eating and pooping firm poops...maybe he just needs longer to get over the wormers/colic Due to a high burden?