Liver damage

[Jo]

Hi

A pony at my horse's yard has liver damage. The vet tested him and said he is badly affected. Is there anything that can be done to save him? He is a young pony and until recently showed no signs of ill health.

His problem has started me wondering how it happened and what I can do to protect my own horses from a similar fate.

[rusk]

I was going through the same thing a week or so ago. My friend's horse was put down because of it, he was 22. The fact that this horse is young is definately in his favour and it can be treated, apparently the liver can recover with the right treatment, so don't think the worst yet.
The most common cause is Ragwort but I am pretty sure it wasn't the Ragwort which killed my friend's horse. Apparently there are a few things which cause it.

[Lgd]

Liver damage often doen't show until it is really advanced. I have heard of good results in even dire cases with homeopathic remedies. There is a vet centre that specialises in this but I'm not sure which one it is. Worth looking into as conventional vet medicine really has little to offer in this situation.

[Jo]

Thanks both - I have read that burdock restores the liver. Vetinerary manuals write-off horses with such damage, though.

The pony is very susceptible to sunlight and has benefitted from a couple of days in a paddock, thanks to the rainy weather we've been having here. He has to be stabled when it's sunny and this causes him stress as he's not used to it. poor soul.

I shall try homeopathy.

[intouch]

www.ainsworths.com (homoeopaths) were very helpful to me last wear when my mare was diagnosed with liver damage.

[lisae]

I was doing some research on bedding when our foal was due and found information from studies on rabbits that pine shavings could cause severe liver damage in rabbits. It had nothing to do with horses, other than they're both herbivores, but when we switched to straw for the foaling I decided to stay with it. It's not to difficult to tend if you take out the wet zones and manure piles every day. Of course it's summer, come winter when the horses are inside more I may be changing back.

[Jo]

Thanks - I have visited Ainsworth.com and found it very encouraging. I shall pass the info on to the owner.