Lameness
A horse is supposed to be lame when it hobbles. Lameness will continue or not with exercise. Trot is more suitable for detecting lameness as legs move in diagonal pairs. Look well as the horse turns around.
If acute lameness the horse will be lame at walk. If the horse is lame in both legs, he wil walk with a pottery stride.
Method:
Front leg Lameness:
Best seen when the horse is coming towards you. Head raised when lame leg touches ground.
Hind leg lameness:
Best seen when horse moving away from you .
Quaters raised as lame leg touches the ground.
Dropped as sound leg touches the ground
Horses viewed from the side to see if they are level.
If acute lameness the horse will be lame at walk. If the horse is lame in both legs, he wil walk with a pottery stride.
Method:
- Observe the horse in the stable
- How it stands (resting a leg)
- How it turns
- How he takes his first step.
- When trotting up a horse (on hard ground)
- Slowly in a straight line. (Freedom head and neck )
- Some horses wont run with Bit in (Carry their head to the side so it appears bridle lameness)
- Use a head collar
- Advisable to use bridle with a fresh horse
- If not bridle , cavason and lunge line .
Front leg Lameness:
Best seen when the horse is coming towards you. Head raised when lame leg touches ground.
Hind leg lameness:
Best seen when horse moving away from you .
Quaters raised as lame leg touches the ground.
Dropped as sound leg touches the ground
Horses viewed from the side to see if they are level.
Laminitis : Natural Remedies
Emergency aid :
Homaeopathy Belladonna
Bach Flowers: Rescue Remedy
Hebs Willow when painful
Herbs Comfrey
Homaeopathy Belladonna
Bach Flowers: Rescue Remedy
Hebs Willow when painful
Herbs Comfrey
Laminitis
HOW DOES FEED CAUSE LAMINITIS?
Feeds rich in starches and sugars can cause a digestive upset in the large intestine. These energy rich nutrients are usually digested in the small bowel, however if eaten in excess they spill over into the large bowel, where they are fermented by certain species of bacteria. This results in production of lactic acid, with many normal bacteria, which live in the bowel to digest fibre being unable to survive the acid conditions. As the acid builds up and bacteria die, toxic substances known as ‘endotoxins’ are released and enter the bloodstream. It is these endotoxins which are thought to damage the laminae, either by a direct toxic effect or by altering the blood flow to the hooves.
Feeds rich in starches and sugars can cause a digestive upset in the large intestine. These energy rich nutrients are usually digested in the small bowel, however if eaten in excess they spill over into the large bowel, where they are fermented by certain species of bacteria. This results in production of lactic acid, with many normal bacteria, which live in the bowel to digest fibre being unable to survive the acid conditions. As the acid builds up and bacteria die, toxic substances known as ‘endotoxins’ are released and enter the bloodstream. It is these endotoxins which are thought to damage the laminae, either by a direct toxic effect or by altering the blood flow to the hooves.
http://www.horsefeeds.co.uk/laminitisresearch.html
Recomended bedding for the laminitic horse and pony
BEDMAX : bedding is recommended at least a foot deep. Gives plenty of support and cushion
Hay:
Base the diet on forage feeds that are low in sugars (ie have a low
glycaemic index). This can be achieved by feeding mature lucerne
hay that is typically lower in fructans and higher in protein than
other hays. Avoid hays containing high amounts of fructan such as
ryegrass, oaten, wheaten or barley hays.
Hay can also be soaked in double its volume of warm water for 60
minutes to help reduce the sugar content. Remove the water and
allow hay to air dry prior to feeding.
Silage produced especially for horses or lucerne haylage can also
be fed as these are also low in sugars.
Hay should be offered prior to turning the horse out to fi ll the
stomach and limit the amount of pasture ingested while grazing.
Feeds for Laminitic horses and ponies:
Company Product
Dengi Hifi light
Dodson and Horrel Fibergy
Spillars Happy Hoof
British Horse feeds Speedy beet
British Horse Feeds Fibre-beet
Dengi Alpha Beet
Dengi Healthy Hooves
Hygain Hygain Ice
TopSpec AntiLam
BEDMAX : bedding is recommended at least a foot deep. Gives plenty of support and cushion
Hay:
Base the diet on forage feeds that are low in sugars (ie have a low
glycaemic index). This can be achieved by feeding mature lucerne
hay that is typically lower in fructans and higher in protein than
other hays. Avoid hays containing high amounts of fructan such as
ryegrass, oaten, wheaten or barley hays.
Hay can also be soaked in double its volume of warm water for 60
minutes to help reduce the sugar content. Remove the water and
allow hay to air dry prior to feeding.
Silage produced especially for horses or lucerne haylage can also
be fed as these are also low in sugars.
Hay should be offered prior to turning the horse out to fi ll the
stomach and limit the amount of pasture ingested while grazing.
Feeds for Laminitic horses and ponies:
Company Product
Dengi Hifi light
Dodson and Horrel Fibergy
Spillars Happy Hoof
British Horse feeds Speedy beet
British Horse Feeds Fibre-beet
Dengi Alpha Beet
Dengi Healthy Hooves
Hygain Hygain Ice
TopSpec AntiLam
HORSE OWNERS COMMENT
1
.Laminitics should not be turned out when the ground is frosty as Grass uses sugar as an anti-freeze to stop its cells bursting. When it gets frozen, it fills its leaves with sugar. Ethylene glycol.
2.
Extracted from www.safergrass.org
Temperature
Nighttime temperatures of less than about 40F (5C) will cause sugar and fructan levels to increase significantly. The duration of the lower temperature will have a direct bearing on the amount of sugars leftover from the day before. A week of nights with freezing temperatures and sunny days can double the NSC content of grass.
.Laminitics should not be turned out when the ground is frosty as Grass uses sugar as an anti-freeze to stop its cells bursting. When it gets frozen, it fills its leaves with sugar. Ethylene glycol.
2.
Extracted from www.safergrass.org
Temperature
Nighttime temperatures of less than about 40F (5C) will cause sugar and fructan levels to increase significantly. The duration of the lower temperature will have a direct bearing on the amount of sugars leftover from the day before. A week of nights with freezing temperatures and sunny days can double the NSC content of grass.
Supplements
Company Product
Equimins Laminator
Equi Life Formula4feet
http://www.founderguard.uk.com/laminitisquestions.html
Equimins Laminator
Equi Life Formula4feet
http://www.founderguard.uk.com/laminitisquestions.html
Styrofoam pad which has been removed
Good even pressure through the frog
This styrofoam pad has been removed after 4 days, this horse shows good even pressure through the frog and even support through sole.
Styrofoam pads :
These pads play a very important part in puting presure up through frog thus helping to stop pedal bone rotating. It also helps to stop sole dropping further
Here is a Styrofoam pad in its unused state
Metal Heart bar shoe
This shoe was temporally removed while the horse wore the pads above.
Natural Hoof
The angles shown above are baseline angles from which to trim the horse's front hooves to its natural conformation and wear. Please keep in mind that each HOOF as well as each horse is an individual entity and must be trimmed as such.
--The 45 degree angle of the wall can range anywhere from 45 - 58 degrees.
--The hairline will vary slightly, (22-28*) according to the length of the heel needed by the individual horse. The hairline should be a straight line all the way around with no waves or dips to it. Dips in the hairline indicate excessive pressure inside the hoof at the point of dip.
--The coffin bone should be allowed to rest as parallel to the ground as possible to minimize stress and pressures on the tip of the hoof. However, a completely ground parallel CB will cause a negative palmar angle when hoof loads on soft ground. This strains the DDFT and other supportive tissues. Best to have some angle to the bottom of the coffin bone to allow for proper and comfortable functioning of the hoof and its supportive parts. Allowing up to a postive 5* solar angle of the bottom of the CB to the ground plane is most ideal.
--The Arched Quarters allow for the hoof to expand when weight bearing which, in turn, allows the frog to also be weightbearing. The frog can then function adequately as the circulatory pump and shock dissipator for the hoof and lower leg.
--The walls should not be higher than the sole callous and of equal thickness around the hoof. Walls should also be of equal height for balance side to side (medial/lateral)
--The slightly rockered toe (which is a 10 - 15 degree angle and actually less than depicted on the illustration) allows for the horse to land heel first. When a horse lands heel first, the concussive shock of the step travels up the rear and sides of the leg where the soft tissue can absorb the shock. If the horse is landing toe first the concussive shock is forced up the front of the leg through the bones. This is extremely stressful on the bones in the leg, shoulder and back.
--The dorsal toe wall should be around 3 - 3/12" long from coronary band to ground.
--The major weight bearing load should occur in the back 2/3rds of the hoof.
--Heels should be about 1/8" - 1/4" long. In other words, about 1/8" - 1/4" higher than the seat of corn. They should also be trimmed back towards the widest part of the frog to allow the frog to have ground contact during movement. They should be of equal height, one to the other for balance.
REMEMBER: What might be ideal for one horse
is not necessarily true for the next.
Always allow for the individuality of each hoof
on each horse.
--The 45 degree angle of the wall can range anywhere from 45 - 58 degrees.
--The hairline will vary slightly, (22-28*) according to the length of the heel needed by the individual horse. The hairline should be a straight line all the way around with no waves or dips to it. Dips in the hairline indicate excessive pressure inside the hoof at the point of dip.
--The coffin bone should be allowed to rest as parallel to the ground as possible to minimize stress and pressures on the tip of the hoof. However, a completely ground parallel CB will cause a negative palmar angle when hoof loads on soft ground. This strains the DDFT and other supportive tissues. Best to have some angle to the bottom of the coffin bone to allow for proper and comfortable functioning of the hoof and its supportive parts. Allowing up to a postive 5* solar angle of the bottom of the CB to the ground plane is most ideal.
--The Arched Quarters allow for the hoof to expand when weight bearing which, in turn, allows the frog to also be weightbearing. The frog can then function adequately as the circulatory pump and shock dissipator for the hoof and lower leg.
--The walls should not be higher than the sole callous and of equal thickness around the hoof. Walls should also be of equal height for balance side to side (medial/lateral)
--The slightly rockered toe (which is a 10 - 15 degree angle and actually less than depicted on the illustration) allows for the horse to land heel first. When a horse lands heel first, the concussive shock of the step travels up the rear and sides of the leg where the soft tissue can absorb the shock. If the horse is landing toe first the concussive shock is forced up the front of the leg through the bones. This is extremely stressful on the bones in the leg, shoulder and back.
--The dorsal toe wall should be around 3 - 3/12" long from coronary band to ground.
--The major weight bearing load should occur in the back 2/3rds of the hoof.
--Heels should be about 1/8" - 1/4" long. In other words, about 1/8" - 1/4" higher than the seat of corn. They should also be trimmed back towards the widest part of the frog to allow the frog to have ground contact during movement. They should be of equal height, one to the other for balance.
REMEMBER: What might be ideal for one horse
is not necessarily true for the next.
Always allow for the individuality of each hoof
on each horse.
Understanding Laminitis
Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOMDzlLKtP0&feature=related
Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4n-1HLHshw&feature=related
Part 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzUeYjYe5yE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFkAX2TIR0o&feature=related
Useful web sites for the feet
http://www.barefoottrim.com/physiology/fronthoofangles.htm
http://www.ecirhorse.com/index.php/laminitis
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18869
http://www.ecirhorse.com/index.php/laminitis
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18869
PURINA
Purina makes a laminitis feed Called Wellsolve L/S formulated for horses with laminitis
http://www.horse.purinamills.com/products/
http://www.founderguard.uk.com/images/D532%20-%20Founderguard%20Dl%203b.pdf
http://www.horse.purinamills.com/products/
http://www.founderguard.uk.com/images/D532%20-%20Founderguard%20Dl%203b.pdf
Caring for the Laminitic
1. Soak hay overnight and dry before feeding
2. Feed Laminitis approved feeds
3. feed approved supplents for good hoof growth
4. keep on deep bedding
5. Care must be taken of new grass growing in the cooler times of late
winter and spring contains far higher levels of the danger molecule
‘fructan’ than grass growing at warmer
6.The re-growth following drought-breaking rain can also contain dangerous levels
of fructan, even in what seems to be a small amount of grass.
Therefore, even on starvation paddocks, the amount of fructan
ingested by a horse can be enough to cause laminitis
7. Ask your vet about Founderguard it controls and suppresses the activity of the ‘bad’ bacteria which produce lactic
acid, thus maintaining the gut microbes in the correct balance
8.If your laminitic horse get sore when its cold keep the legs and feet warm
9. Laminitics can suffer neuropathic pain from damaged nerves
10. Frosted grass: Freezing temperatures in the fall also coincide with outbreaks of laminitis in horses at pasture. Cold temperatures cause growth to cease so that sugar in pasture grasses cannot be utilized by the plant as fast as it is produced and thus they accumulate in the forage. Cool season grasses form fructan, and warm season grasses form starch.[3] Sugars cause increase in insulin levels, which is known to trigger laminitis. Fructan is theorized to cause laminitis by causing an imbalance of the normal bowel flora leading to endotoxin production. These endotoxins may exacerbate insulin resistance, or the damage to the lining of the gut may release other as yet unidentified trigger factors in to the blood stream. For horses prone to laminitis, restrict or avoid grazing when night temperatures are below 40 °F (5 °C) followed by sunny days. When growth resumes during warmer weather, sugar will be used to form protein and fiber and will not accumulate.
2. Feed Laminitis approved feeds
3. feed approved supplents for good hoof growth
4. keep on deep bedding
5. Care must be taken of new grass growing in the cooler times of late
winter and spring contains far higher levels of the danger molecule
‘fructan’ than grass growing at warmer
6.The re-growth following drought-breaking rain can also contain dangerous levels
of fructan, even in what seems to be a small amount of grass.
Therefore, even on starvation paddocks, the amount of fructan
ingested by a horse can be enough to cause laminitis
7. Ask your vet about Founderguard it controls and suppresses the activity of the ‘bad’ bacteria which produce lactic
acid, thus maintaining the gut microbes in the correct balance
8.If your laminitic horse get sore when its cold keep the legs and feet warm
9. Laminitics can suffer neuropathic pain from damaged nerves
10. Frosted grass: Freezing temperatures in the fall also coincide with outbreaks of laminitis in horses at pasture. Cold temperatures cause growth to cease so that sugar in pasture grasses cannot be utilized by the plant as fast as it is produced and thus they accumulate in the forage. Cool season grasses form fructan, and warm season grasses form starch.[3] Sugars cause increase in insulin levels, which is known to trigger laminitis. Fructan is theorized to cause laminitis by causing an imbalance of the normal bowel flora leading to endotoxin production. These endotoxins may exacerbate insulin resistance, or the damage to the lining of the gut may release other as yet unidentified trigger factors in to the blood stream. For horses prone to laminitis, restrict or avoid grazing when night temperatures are below 40 °F (5 °C) followed by sunny days. When growth resumes during warmer weather, sugar will be used to form protein and fiber and will not accumulate.
Signs of Laminitis
Shifting weight from one hoof to another (“paddling”)
> Lameness at the walk or trot, especially when the horse turns
sharply
> Palpable heat in the hooves
> Increased pulses in the digital arteries over the fetlock
> Decreased mobility, or a reluctance to walk. Affected horses
will often lie down.
> Pain with thumb or hoof tester pressure over the toe region
of the sole
> Abnormal “sawhorse” stance, with the front hooves placed
further forward than normal so that the heels carry more
weight than the toes
> Fluid accumulation and swelling (oedema) of the lower legs
> Increased heart rate and respiratory rate
> Trembling, sweating and visible distress
> Bruised soles
> Widened white line
> Dropped soles, squashed heels or fl at hooves
> Dished hooves
> Abnormal hoof growth, usually with rings or grooves around
the hoof wall
> Thick “cresty” neck
> Unnaturally long shaggy haircoat that doesn’t shed at the
usual times.
PASTURE FOR THE LAMINITIC
Pasture fructan levels are lowest in the morning so horses can
be allowed to graze until about 11am. Limit pasture access to 90
minutes only in spring and autumn. “Starvation” paddocks, strip
grazing and grazing muzzles can be used to limit pasture intake.
Do not allow laminitic horses to graze on stressed short grass,
frosted or drought recovering pastures as these may contain
high fructan levels. Avoid grazing in full sun during the day and as
much as possible during spring and autumn, especially after a dry
summer (ie times of high pasture growth).
Avoid ryegrass, phalaris and fescue dominant lush pastures which
are considered high risk pastures, as well as rapidly growing clover
in pastures in spring.
Websites with useful info on Laminitis
http://www.lakeviewvets.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84:laminitis-diet&catid=38:equine-info&Itemid=67
http://www.barefoothorse.com/barefoot_PhotoGallery.html
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080912155846AAGUeaj
http://www.thinklikeahorse.org/index-28.html
https://www.padd.fr/panier-museliere/5732-panier-museliere.html#/3691-unique-unique
http://www.hphoofcare.com/founder.html
Treats for the Laminitic Horse or pony
- A swede
- Nuts - Brasil are really good, but almonds too.
- Dried fruit of any kind - the chewy banana slices for example are a hight treat value because of the flavour - but 6 slices are realy a small piece of banana so it's Ok.
- Mint pellets
- cut down and wilt nettles as a treat
- I use sugar-free Polos, Hilton Herballs
- dodson & horrel equibites as a treat
- sugar free polos tho they have aspartame in and you have to be careful as aspartame has some very nasty side effects
ways to avoid laminitis
Here are 10 ways to safeguard your horse from developing this potentially fatal hoof condition. Limit access to lush pasture, especially when it is emerging in spring or recovering from drought. Photo by Hunter Messineo Here are guidelines for feeding, health and management to minimise the risk of laminitis.
Concentrated Rations:
1. Match your horse's diet to his individual energy needs. Feed only as much high-energy concentrate as necessary.
2. When extra energy is required or your horse is losing weight, feed oats or a low-starch commercial mix fortified with up to two cups of vegetable oil.
3. Make corrective changes to his diet gradually to reduce the likelihood of digestive distress.
4. To prevent him from bingeing, keep all high-energy feeds doubly secure. Place them in closed containers behind a horse-proof feed-room door. Grazing:
5. Limit access to lush pasture, particularly when it is emerging in the spring or recovering after drought. Gradually introduce horses unaccustomed to turnout: Begin with 15 minutes of grazing a day, then build up to the desired turnout time over the next several weeks. If your horse is overweight, a cresty easy keeper, has had laminitis in the past, or is otherwise susceptible to the condition, consider muzzling him when you turn him out on lush pasture.
6. Offer quality grass hay tested for starch and sugar. Avoid clover and alfalfa as pasture and hay for susceptible horses.
Advertisement Healthcare:
7. Prevent systemic illness that can lead to laminitis through regular deworming, vaccinations and other routine health maintenance.
Hooves:
8. Have his hooves trimmed regularly.
9. If your horse is lame, support the opposite "good" foot as well as the one with the problem to reduce the risk of the sound limb developing mechanical laminitis.
10. Avoid long gallops over extremely hard ground, which can subject your horse's hooves to excessive concussion.
Concentrated Rations:
1. Match your horse's diet to his individual energy needs. Feed only as much high-energy concentrate as necessary.
2. When extra energy is required or your horse is losing weight, feed oats or a low-starch commercial mix fortified with up to two cups of vegetable oil.
3. Make corrective changes to his diet gradually to reduce the likelihood of digestive distress.
4. To prevent him from bingeing, keep all high-energy feeds doubly secure. Place them in closed containers behind a horse-proof feed-room door. Grazing:
5. Limit access to lush pasture, particularly when it is emerging in the spring or recovering after drought. Gradually introduce horses unaccustomed to turnout: Begin with 15 minutes of grazing a day, then build up to the desired turnout time over the next several weeks. If your horse is overweight, a cresty easy keeper, has had laminitis in the past, or is otherwise susceptible to the condition, consider muzzling him when you turn him out on lush pasture.
6. Offer quality grass hay tested for starch and sugar. Avoid clover and alfalfa as pasture and hay for susceptible horses.
Advertisement Healthcare:
7. Prevent systemic illness that can lead to laminitis through regular deworming, vaccinations and other routine health maintenance.
Hooves:
8. Have his hooves trimmed regularly.
9. If your horse is lame, support the opposite "good" foot as well as the one with the problem to reduce the risk of the sound limb developing mechanical laminitis.
10. Avoid long gallops over extremely hard ground, which can subject your horse's hooves to excessive concussion.
The Liver
Receives digests for metabolic processing . Has an important function in detoxifying of indigestible potential hazardous substances resulting in the horses natural grazing. Its therefore at risk from toxic damages during this time. Its a highly active organ its also at risk from airborn
infections
cirrhosis
excess fat deposits
neoplasma
These can all produce changes in the activity and output. These can be measure in the blood serum and plasma
In many cases the actual signs of illness or disease do not point to the liver until 75% of the organ is damaged.
Liver Disease
abdomen odema below
Acute (mild stoppable)
Severe (irreversible acute liver failure)
Most are due to toxins at a level against which the liver's detoxifying powers are sufficient per se,or less usually because of inter current morbidity from:
Pasture and hedgerow plants inc ragwort
arsenic
waste oils
carbon tetrachloride
infectious
viral = hepatitis
Bacterial - aflatoxins
Metabolic =hyperlipeamia
Bacterials _ leptospiral
signs;
intermittent abdominal pain
loss of appetite
depression
lethargy
increase heart rate
low grade impaction
weight loss
yawning
jaundice
photosensitsation
ataxia
behavioral changes
ventral odema
altered blood clotting
occasional diarrhea
odemas edemas
Treatment:
Links
http://www.horsenutrition.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=54&Itemid=88
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/does-lemon-juice-detox-the-liver/
http://www.yourhorse.co.uk/Community-Landing/Forum-Landing/Forum-Categories/Topic/?topic-id=37274
http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/Diagnostic+Center/Liver-disease-in-the-horse-clinical-signs-and-diag/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/430414
Things to help the liver
Legaphyton (with milk thistle) http://www.equistro.co.uk/ProductPage/LEGAPHYTON.html
Gold Label - Rescue
Licorice Root
Dandilion
Tumaric
real lemon juice
Immuplus
nettles
Metabolic =hyperlipeamia
Bacterials _ leptospiral
signs;
intermittent abdominal pain
loss of appetite
depression
lethargy
increase heart rate
low grade impaction
weight loss
yawning
jaundice
photosensitsation
ataxia
behavioral changes
ventral odema
altered blood clotting
occasional diarrhea
odemas edemas
Treatment:
Links
http://www.horsenutrition.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=54&Itemid=88
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/does-lemon-juice-detox-the-liver/
http://www.yourhorse.co.uk/Community-Landing/Forum-Landing/Forum-Categories/Topic/?topic-id=37274
http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/Diagnostic+Center/Liver-disease-in-the-horse-clinical-signs-and-diag/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/430414
Things to help the liver
Legaphyton (with milk thistle) http://www.equistro.co.uk/ProductPage/LEGAPHYTON.html
Gold Label - Rescue
Licorice Root
Dandilion
Tumaric
real lemon juice
Immuplus
nettles
HORSE OWNERS COMMENT
- I have my mare on milk thistle, dodson & horrell do it. She had high liver enzymes when i got a blood sample taken and vet said it wouldnt do her any harm to keep her on it
- keep her on the low protein (but what protein she does have should be the highest possible quality) and Milk Thistle as a precaution. Be very very wary of ever giving her conditioning mixes or oil because these place high demands on the liver
- My mare has got liver desease, prob due to long term bute for laminitis. Vet has prescribed us LEGAPHYTON cutting out some of her supplements and also her Alfa A lite. Next bloods due in 2 weeks.
- 1. Feed a very low protein diet
2. What protein your horse does have (he will need SOME protein!) should be the very highest quality you can afford as this will mean less work for the liver
3. Feed little and often as this is less work for the liver than big blasts
4. Add Milk Thistle to his feeds to support the liver - D&H do a good quality dried tub
5. Add Yea Sac to his feeds to stimulate a flagging appetite and aid hind gut digestion
6. No conditioning feeds or oils EVER as the liver won't be able to break them down
7. Use starches and sugars for energy but with the obvious precautions
8. If ragwort poisoning is suspected, the condition may be permanent
9. If ragwort poisoning is suspected, keep the horse out of the sun during spring, summer, autumn
10. Be aware that a poorly functioning liver can bring other problems such as blood not clotting properly, distended abdomen, blood in urine etc etc - I'd feed a diet to support the liver: very low protein, what protein you do feed to be the highest quality you can afford, milk thistle, Yea Sac, no daytime turnout. Apologies if you're doing this already. Prof Derek Knottenbelt of Liverpool University is a world expert on liver disease in horses and will always respond to enquiries from lay horse owners. He's [email protected] and is brilliant. He helped me enormously when I took on a ragwort poisoned rescue gypsy cob.
- The prognosis depends on what is causing the liver disease. If it's ragwort poisoning then the outlook is poor. Ragwort damaged livers cannot regenerate. Liver damage only starts to show when approximately 70% or more of the liver is damaged so unfortunately a lot of harm can be caused before owners realise there's a problem. The liver has such a range of functions within the body that any damage to it can cause major problems. One symptom is neurological damage which can take the form of fits, blindness, unusual vocalisations, self harm, unsteady gaits and a host of other distressing things. To support your horse's liver while the vets work out the cause and prognosis, you need to feed a very low protein diet, absolutely no oils or conditioning feed whatsoever even if the horse starts to lose weight, feed Milk Thistle and Yea Sac, feed little and often. Top quality nursing to counteract depression and loss of interest in life. Keep out of strong sunlight. Fingers crossed - do let us know what your vets say x
- Dr Teresa Hollands is chief nutritionist with D&H. D&H work hand in glove with Prof Knottenbelt of Liverpool Uni on liver damage in horses. The Prof is a world expert. I wouldn't hesitate to put your horse on a liver-support diet until you know what the most recent blood tests show. If there is any doubt as to whether your horse has an ongoing or serious liver problem then D&H can draw up a tailored diet for your horse. Should things deteriorate, the Prof is always willing to help the individual horse owner.
- A liver damaged horse should NEVER EVER be fed oils or conditioning feeds (which always contain high levels of oil). A damaged liver cannot break oils down (the bile produced in the liver does this) so you will get digestive problems caused by undigested oils passing through the gut as well as toxins circulating in the blood stream. Dump the oils and drop the protein levels. You may feel you need more oomph but, sorry to be graphic, a live horse comes before performance levels. Hang on until you know for sure what if anything is wrong with your horse's liver...only then can you safely start making more demands of the liver. I would strongly urge you to contact D&H for potentially life-saving advice x
- Ragwort damage is cumulative and it can cause the blotches that you see on your mare and liver damage. While your vet works out if it IS ragwort poisoning (can only definitively be proved with a biopsy but vet will have a gut feeling without it) you need to put your mare on a liver-friendly diet as follows: VERY low protein diet but what protein she must have needs to be of the highest quality you can afford, feed Milk Thistle and Yea Sac, no oils or conditioning feeds (high in oils) EVER, feed in as many small feeds as possible. In addition, you need to keep her out of the sun in summer (if it ever shows up this year) as she may get acute photosensitivity which will make her face and any pink skiin areas burn horribly. With the patches on her skin, please ditch the cornucrescene - it works by being an irritant which makes an area inflamed which technically would bring more nutrients to the area and so the hoof horn/hair would grow better. The last thing you want to be putting on such sensitive skin is an irritant. I found the only thing that cleared my rescued mare's patches up was Bepanthen, the expensive baby nappy cream. Once I'd got my mare's liver balanced (though ragwort damaged livers will never recover) the skin patches cleared up
I was feeding my mare 10 small feeds a day ie split into that 700grms per feed.
I am using
Legaphyton ( from vets)
milk thistle
yea sac
nettles
other things good for the liver is
dandelion root
licorice
lemon juice
One mistake i did was to use a detox BIG MISTAKE liver disease needs help not a detox.l
NO FAST FIBRE
hifi or anything with straw, this causes ammonia to build up and give the horse brain fog
Do not:
use a detox with disease:
nothing with straw in it
MILK THISTLE LIVER CLEANSER
Milk Thistle Liver Cleanse ## Milk thistle stimulates the regeneration of liver and kidney cells. This will make it, useful for problems including hepatitis, fatty liver, and cirrhosis of the liver. Treatment with milk thistle is important for anyone who has been poisoned by consuming the deathcap mushroom (Amanita phalloides). In 49 reported cases where people who have deathcap poisoning received an injectable form of milk thistle (silibin), physicians reported full recovery-even when treatment came as late as 36 hours after the poisoning happened.
Milk thistle extract has been proven to stimulate kidney-cell regeneration. Milk thistle is also the most effective herbs for stimulating the flow of bile, which is necessary to good digestion. Because of this, it’s useful for enhancing the digestion of fats as well as useful in improving bowel elimination.
I recommend one take a 200 to 250mg capsule of a standardized extract (80% to 85% silymarin) 3 times daily. This is equivalent to 480 to 600 mg of silymarin daily. Should you suffer bloating, then take it 15 minutes before or with a meal. A special form of milk thistle bound to phosphatidylcholine, generally known as Phytosome, has been proven to increase absorption. The dosage for the tincture form is 20 to 30 drops 3 times daily.
The only major concern about milk thistle is that a very high dosage can cause loose stools because of increased bile flow. For those who have a sensitive digestive tract, begin with one capsule and gradually increase the dosage. If you experience loose stools or diarrhea, then reduce the dosage.
Lymphosarcoma
These are malignant neoplasia which come in various patterns.
- Lesions within the abdominal cavity which affect the lymph nodes
- Space occupying lesions of the pleural cavities, which affect the systemic lymph nodes and the thymic area.