Managing Liver Disease In Horses Through Nutrition
- Protein. Protein intake will need to be controlled in any horse that is diagnosed with liver disease, but especially those that are struggling with behavioral symptoms.
- Forage. Forage should make up the vast majority of what your horse eats. This includes things like grass and hay.
- Compound feeds. Compound feeds are those that are made ready to eat for your horse based on a standard balanced diet.
- Oils. Oil should be kept to as small an amount as possible, as it can be difficult for your horse to digest it with a malfunctioning liver.
- Vitamins & Minerals. When it comes to vitamins and minerals, there will be some that you need to feed your horse in excess and others that you'll want to feed ...
- CBD Supplements. If your horse is suffering from particularly harsh side effects with their liver disease, consider adding CBD supplements to their diet.
Can you feed a horse with liver disease?
For horses that have been diagnosed with liver or kidney disease, modifications to the feeding program may be beneficial. Any horse with a diseased liver or kidneys should be evaluated by a veterinarian, as dietary changes will be only part of the treatment and overall management of these equines.
What is compound feed for horses with liver disease?
Compound feeds are those that are made ready to eat for your horse based on a standard balanced diet. While these can be a great way to feed your horse when they are healthy, the balance of nutrients might not be quite right for a horse struggling with liver disease.
Why is my horse's liver so important?
Your horse's liver is vital to their digestive system, so any damage to it needs to be remedied as soon as it's found. Liver disease can be difficult to spot in horses for several reasons. First, the liver is a highly regenerative organ.
What do you feed a horse with kidney failure?
Grass hay should be fed as the fiber source. Chronic kidney failure in horses decreases excretion of calcium, phosphorus, and urea but can lead to a deficit of sodium. In general, feedstuffs high in protein (legumes, soybeans), phosphorus (wheat bran), and calcium (legumes, calcium-containing supplements) should be avoided.
What feeds should be avoided in horses with liver dysfunction?
Feeding legumes such as alfalfa and clover, which are generally high in protein, should be avoided. Some clinicians recommend oat hay. It is advisable to avoid high-fat diets in horses with liver disease to reduce the possibility of fat deposition in the liver, which can further impair its function.
How can I help my horse with liver disease?
There is no specific treatment for the disease. Supportive therapy and treatment for the hepatic encephalopathy is often successful. Stressful situations, such as moving the horse or weaning a mare's foal, may worsen the signs of hepatic encephalopathy and should be avoided, if possible.
Can hay cause liver problems in horses?
Toxic plants can cause liver problems The liver processes every bite of food the horse eats. Grass and hay are vital parts of a horse's diet; however, these may contain chemicals that can damage the animal's liver over time.
What meat is good for liver disease?
As well as following the general dietary advice given to all patients with cirrhosis you may also be advised to eat a diet that is:High in starchy carbohydrates such as potatoes, bread, pasta and rice. ... Low in red meat such as beef, pork and lamb. ... Higher in monounsaturated fats than saturated fats.
What causes liver issues in horses?
Conditions that may induce liver failure include blood infections (septicemia), bacterial toxins in the blood (endotoxemia), infectious diseases (such as leptospirosis and equine herpesvirus 1), intestinal obstructions, suffocation during birth, iron toxicity, and malformations of the biliary tract within the liver ( ...
What is milk thistle used for in horses?
Milk thistle for horses, the powdered seed is rich in antioxidants and can be used to promote a healthy equine liver. Milk thistle will help to support the body's natural regeneration of new liver cell growth and, as a result, give nutritional support for healthy hooves, healthy skin and the whole immune system.
What causes elevated liver enzymes in horses?
Increased hepatic enzyme activity often is a result of secondary liver disease from toxemia, hypoxia, and so forth, and hepatic function remains normal in most horses with these disorders.
What plants cause liver failure in horses?
Pasture-associated liver disease is not uncommonly seen in equine practice. Knowledge of the plants that cause hepatic disease will promote early diag- nosis and improve outcomes. PAs, panicum grasses, and clover (alsike and red clover) are most commonly implicated.
How do I lower my horse's GGT?
“Racehorses in training with higher coenzyme Q10 levels had significantly lower GGT levels in one study. In addition, supplementation with EO-3, a marine-derived omega-3 fatty acid supplement, was associated with a significant reduction in GGT levels in horses in training,” Huntington said.
What food cleans the liver?
BEST FOODS TO CLEANSE YOUR LIVER1) Leafy greens. Green leafy vegetables are high in chlorophyll and soak up a lot of toxins from the bloodstream. ... 2) Cruciferous Vegetables. Cruciferous vegetables are a major source of glutathione. ... 3) Fatty fish. ... 4) Infusions. ... 5) Garlic. ... 6) Nuts. ... 7) Spices. ... 8) Olive Oil.More items...
What foods are good for repairing the liver?
Here are ten of the best liver healing and liver cleansing foods to add to your diet, including some that can help repair liver damage from alcohol.Coffee. Photo by Devin Avery on Unsplash. ... Cruciferous Vegetables. ... Fatty Fish. ... Beets. ... Oatmeal and Grains. ... Soy. ... Turmeric. ... Citrus.More items...•
What foods are hard on the liver?
Worst foods for your liverAlcohol. Alcohol-related liver disease is due to years of drinking too much alcohol. ... Fried foods. Fried foods, like chicken fingers and French fries, are high in saturated fat. ... Processed meats. ... Soda.
Why are my horses liver enzymes high?
Increased hepatic enzyme activity often is a result of secondary liver disease from toxemia, hypoxia, and so forth, and hepatic function remains normal in most horses with these disorders.
What plants cause liver failure in horses?
Pasture-associated liver disease is not uncommonly seen in equine practice. Knowledge of the plants that cause hepatic disease will promote early diag- nosis and improve outcomes. PAs, panicum grasses, and clover (alsike and red clover) are most commonly implicated.
Why do horses have liver problems?
Liver disease in mature horses is most often caused by exposure to toxic plants or feed toxins, infection, or bile stones. Horses can occasionally develop serious liver disease after treatment with products produced from horse blood, such as plasma or tetanus antitoxin.
What are the symptoms of liver disease in horses?
Clinical signs of liver disease can be vague. Affected horses may have fever (temperature greater than 101.5° F [38.6° C]), jaundice, colic, lethargy, or abnormal behavior. If blood protein concentration is low, there may be edema of the legs and bottom of the chest and abdomen.
What is the liver enzyme test for horses?
Measurement of serum bile acids is a useful blood test that evaluates liver function. Because the liver produces many of the proteins in blood, horses with liver disease may have low blood protein concentrations, especially albumin. Bilirubin can also be elevated, but another important and common cause of elevated bilirubin is anorexia.
Why do horses have sunburns?
Some horses with hepatic disease will develop photosensitization and appear to have severe sunburn on the white areas of their bodies such as on face and leg markings. Photosensitization occurs when the liver is unable to process chlorophyll (the green pigment in plants).
How does equine nutrition help horses?
The power of targeted equine nutrition programs is unquestionable. Take, for instance, the feeding management practices that almost entirely relieve horses of the crippling signs associated with tying-up. By reducing starch intake and filling the caloric void with fat and fiber, many racehorses genetically predisposed to the disease have become successful athletes. In these cases, the entire horse benefits from dietary manipulation. Even more precisely targeted diets can benefit horses with certain compromised organs such as horses with liver disease.
Why do horses have bleeding tendencies?
Some horses with liver disease might have bleeding tendencies because the liver produces many of the clotting factors. Treatment. Specific treatment of liver disease depends on its cause.
What is the liver of a horse?
The liver accounts for approximately 1% of an adult horse’s body weight. The organ lies almost entirely to the right of median, and is encased completely by the rib cage. Of greatest significance anatomically is the absence of a gall bladder. Because of this, bile is emptied directly from the liver into the duodenum.
How to treat liver disease in horses?
If an infection is the determined cause, then antibiotics will be prescribed. If the diet is the culprit, then a new diet will be recommended to fix the issue.
What is the role of a horse's liver?
The Role Of Your Horse's Liver. To understand why liver disease is such a serious health issue, it's important to understand the purpose your horse's liver serves. The liver is one of the largest organs in horses, making up 1% of their total weight.
Why does my horse have skin lesions?
However, because liver disease impairs the liver's ability to function healthily, the phylloerythrin in your horse's blood can increase to unsafe levels, which results in their skin being extra sensitive to the UV rays found in sunlight. This can lead to sores and lesions developing across a horse's skin.
Why does my horse have jaundice?
Because bilirubin levels are regulated by your horse's liver, liver disease can cause a horse to develop jaundice as the disease progresses . Once again, though, jaundice is not necessarily an indicator of liver disease.
Why is my horse's liver so bad?
This can be the result of poor diet, scarring, and even a more serious underlying issue like cancer. Your horse's liver is vital to their digestive system, so any damage to it needs to be remedied as soon as it's found. Liver disease can be difficult to spot in horses for several reasons. First, the liver is a highly regenerative organ.
Why is my horse's skin sensitive to sunlight?
This happens due to an increase in phylloerythrin, a photodynamic agent that can be found in your horse's gastrointestinal tract. Phylloerythrin is a naturally occurring extract found in the plants that horses eat.
How do you know if your horse has liver disease?
If your horse participates in any kind of sports or athletic activities, you're likely to notice a decrease in energy, performance, or willingness to cooperate. Most horses will start to show display behaviors like depression, aimless walking, walking in circles, head-pressing, excessive yawning, and even mild ataxia.
A simple organ with complex functionality
Depending on the size of the horse, their liver weighs between 5 and 9 kilograms. It is situated right behind the diaphragm and in front of the stomach, where it is held in place by six ligaments and the pressure of the surrounding organs.
Symptoms and consequences of liver damage
In most organs, when they are damaged this usually means that cells are completely destroyed with total loss of organ function. Most, however, can repair and regenerate cells within reason. In the liver, this is a different story: when hepatocytes incur damage, the liver can generally continue to exercise most of its functions.
Nutritional guidelines for horses with liver damage
Liver failure is untreatable, but adjusting the horse’s feed can help with recovery and maintaining overall health. Always consult a vet when you have a suspicion of liver failure, and remember that prevention is the best treatment!
A brief summary of all our tips
Feed your horse multiple times throughout the day (5-6 portions) to avoid peaks and troughs in its blood sugar levels.
Can horses have liver disease?
For horses that have been diagnosed with liver or kidney disease, modifications to the feeding program may be beneficial. Any horse with a diseased liver or kidneys should be evaluated by a veterinarian, as dietary changes will be only part of the treatment and overall management of these equines.
Does kidney failure cause a deficit in sodium in horses?
Chronic kidney failure in horses decreases excretion of calcium, phosphorus, and urea but can lead to a deficit of sodium. In general, feedstuffs high in protein (legumes, soybeans), phosphorus (wheat bran), and calcium (legumes, calcium-containing supplements) should be avoided. These horses can benefit from fat supplementation to increase the energy density of the diet.
How to tell if a horse has liver disease?
Signs of liver disease. Jaundice: May be visible in the horse's mouth, nostrils or eye areas. Loss of condition. Abdominal pain. Blood clotting may be reduced , leading to excessive bleeding or increased oedemas. Diarrhoea. Discoloured urine. Yawning. Head pressing.
What is liver failure in horses?
Liver disease and liver failure in Horses: Symptoms, causes & Treatment. The liver is one of the most important organs in the horse's body. It weighs approximately 5kg and is located centrally within the abdomen. The liver is involved in many essential biological processes, therefore advanced disease where 60-75% of the liver is damaged can be life ...
How much oil should I feed my horse?
Oil can be fed at 0.1-1ml/ kg bodyweight per day in the total diet i.e. 50-500mls per day for a 500kg horse provided there are no signs of malabsorption such as diarrhoea or steatorrhea (fat in the faeces) or other contraindications advised by your vet. Any oil should be introduced gradually, adjusting the quantity fed according to the horse's energy requirements.
What are the proteins that are synthesised in the liver?
Protein metabolism: Almost all of the blood proteins are synthesised in the liver including albumin, fibrinogen and clotting factors. Vitamin storage of fat soluble vitamins (A, D, K) and vitamin B12. Photoactive chemical production: The liver produces chemicals that protect the body from sunlight. Iron storage. Signs of liver disease.
How much of the liver is damaged?
The liver is involved in many essential biological processes, therefore advanced disease where 60-75% of the liver is damaged can be life threatening and will need careful long term management including suitable dietary management.
Can horses eat protein?
Aim to meet but not exceed protein requirements. Excessive protein intake may be most detrimental in horses/ ponies displaying neurological signs of liver disease such as head pressing. However encouraging individuals to eat may be more important than restricting protein intake.
Can liver regenerate in horses?
However , under most circumstances the liver can regenerate therefore clinical signs may not always be obvious although athletic performance may be affected. See the below relevant information on the symptoms, causes and best treatments for liver disease and liver failure in horses. SPILLERS also offer a great range of feeds to help support ...
How to treat liver disease in horses?
In most cases, this means that your horse will be checked into the veterinary hospital to receive supportive care. IV fluids, sugars and several meals per day consisting of a low protein diet will be given.
What is the goal of liver treatment for horses?
The goal of any treatment for liver disease is to decrease the intestinal ammonia production, potassium, and vitamins within your horse’s body. Most cases of liver disease will require specific medications that treat the cause of the disease. Speak with your veterinarian regarding the medications being given and follow all instructions exactly as given. Be sure to direct any questions or concerns to your veterinarian regarding your horse’s treatment.
What is Liver Disease?
Generally, the liver can still function effectively even when it is partially diseased or damaged. A highly diseased or damaged liver can be a very serious problem for your horse. Liver disease can cause significant health problems for your horse.
What is the function of the liver in horses?
The liver also is important for coagulation or clotting within the body. The primary function of the liver is to rid the body of toxins. It also aids in protein synthesis and the production of biochemicals that are necessary for digestion.
Can horses be euthanized?
Your horse’s recovery will depend on the cause, how well they respond to treatments and the amount of scarring that has occurred on the liver. Horses that develop liver failure are generally euthanized.
Can a horse have liver disease?
Certain grasses and clovers can cause your horse to develop liver disease, such as alsike clover, Panicum grasses, ragwort, fiddleneck or hound’s tongue. Inflammation or an infection in the bile duct can also cause liver disease. Other causes include serum hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis, biliary stones, hepatic lipidosis, torsion or twisting of the liver, and excessive ammonia within the blood.