|
Post by annas on Dec 14, 2007 9:45:24 GMT 1
Well Lilly had a blood test to investigate a swelling a couple of weeks ago. It showed there was high white blood cell levels indicating an infection. Also another type of white blood cell was raised indicating worms. So she was on antibiotics for a week and had a test for tape worm (which came back clear). I have since wormed her in case there was another worm burden. She has just had a follow up blood test for the infection and it has shown that has cleared up. However the worm burden is better but still high so i have to give her a 5 day panacur course. If anyone has any tricks of getting that into her please let me know as she won't touch her food with it in! Anyway this second blood test is now showing low protein levels and slightly raised liver enzymes. So she has to be on 2 supplements for a month and then have another blood test. The thing is I don't know why this would not show in the previous blood test unless it was a very recent problem?? Do levels vary that much when there is a problem that it can be clear on one test and show problems on another? Do you think the drugs she has had (antibiotics, wormer and has been on bute until recently) could damage the liver and cause these elevated enzymes? I am just really quite worried now. It's one thing after another, i must be such a bad mum!!
|
|
|
Post by specialsparkle3 on Dec 14, 2007 12:44:48 GMT 1
My vet told me that many horses suffer from bacterial liver infections for no aparent reason, and half the time people don't even notice, although it can bring on secondary illnesses such as laminitis. Maybe the vet wasn't loking for results concerning the liver before. I believe it is important to get rid of any worm burden your horse may be suffering, and Panacure guard can easily be given daily by syringe. You are not being a bad Mum, all will resolve itself.
|
|
|
Post by annas on Dec 27, 2007 21:32:28 GMT 1
Hi, thank you for your reply (sorry i didn't reply sooner ) It is interesting what you say about liver infections for no reason, that could explain what is going on. Luckily the infection has cleared now so i hope things will get better. I did manage to get the panacur into her and she is due another blood test in January to see how things are going. The swelling under her body does seem to have gone down although i guess it is still there a bit. The problem is her legs have filled in the past day. I guess that could also be related?? She is not lame and there is no heat. I cant really walk her to make the swelling go down as she has a knee injury and is also a complete lunatic when i take her out. Does anyone have experience of liver problems? I am so worried now though. I lost my donkey a few years back to a liver problem and i am so worried my horse will go downhill. She is eating well but i am convinced she is not right, though that may be my paranoia. I have almost got it into my head that i am going to lose her and i don't know what to do. If new swellings keep coming up the liver problem can't have settled down.
|
|
|
Post by iceberg on Dec 27, 2007 21:47:56 GMT 1
The only experience I have of liver problem is with Toby. Its very limited what I know, but his bloods came back showing liver damage, but that it was repairing its self. (over time the liver can recover very well if allowed to).
The symptoms were, lethargy, being very quiet all of a sudden, and photosensitivity. ( scabs on heels that wouldnt heal up, mainly).
The vet took bloods which she said 'indicated liver was not working at full capacity ,due to damage ( before I got him) possibly from poisening ( ragwort).'
So as it was working at '75 % and improving' she just recommended very very low protein foods. So I never fed him hard feed or chaff higher than 6% protein. Which if you read the info on the bags is quite low, even the lammi friendly ones are higher than that. No haylege, only hay. Thats all I know about liver damage, sorry if it isnt any help and I hope you can find some answers on here.xx
|
|
|
Post by annas on Dec 27, 2007 22:25:28 GMT 1
Thanks Iceberg. I didn't know that they could tell if the liver was actually repairing from the blood test. The vet did say that it was slightly raised liver enzymes so i guess that is better than them being really high. I will have to check out the feed that she is having and see what the protein levels are. i do feed her haylage though, it is the high fibre horsehage. She has that and normal hay. It says it is low protein but do you think that could cause problems? Also (and sorry if i sound thick, just wondering if anyone knows) if she had low protein levels and is fed a low protein diet does it make it worse? Or is it the protein in the diet that can cause the problems with the liver? Also i assume if she has low protein levels them her tissues wont repair properly if she is injured? She is recovering from injury so i am guessing this could make things worse? And if the liver is damaged doesn't it needs the protein to be able to repair? Ahh my head is spinning now. Hope that made sense.
|
|