Liver Treatment in Equines

Liver disease in horses is so rare that there is no over-the-counter or standard medical treatment. The liver is responsible for filtering and cleaning the blood. Damage to your horse's lliver is often irreversible and usually fatal. In some cases of acute liver failure, your horse can be managed amid the hope that the liver will heal itself. Here are some tips on liver treatment in horses.

  1. Acute Liver Failure

    • If your horse has ingested a toxin that causes its liver to fail, such as poisonous plants or a drug that has been injected or ingested in some fashion, there is a small hope of recovery. If the illness is noticed immediately, rush your horse to the hospital, where she will be placed on IV fluids to flush the toxins and maintain blood sugar levels. If you catch the damage early enough, and the IV treatments work, your horse's liver may be able to repair itself and function again. Without healing itself, however, the liver failure may be permanent, and euthanasia may be your only option.

    Chronic Liver Failure

    • In the case of chronic liver failure, where the liver is permanently damaged and not functioning properly, your horse's life span will be limited. Even with regular treatment for blood sugar levels, a high protein diet, and the feeding of various supplements such as iron and vitamin E, your horse will gradually decline and euthanasia will be the humane option.

    Prevention

    • The best way to treat equine liver problems is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Screen your pastures carefully for poisonous plants such as ragwort, snakeweed and locoweed. Make sure your horse is well fed so he won't be tempted to munch on plants he would not normally touch. Avoid injections or feeding questionable "supplements" to improve performance.