What to look out for

Dull demeanor, anorexia, abdominal pain, cerebral dysfunction, weight loss, (McGorum et al, 1999).

Once 75% of the organ is damaged irreparably the horse will show the characteristic clinical signs.  These include lethargy, weight loss, diarrhoea, or at least pasty, sloppy faeces and in the summer months photosensitation. (Knottenbelt, 2000)

The following is an extract from a Peer Reviewed Article
presented by Dr Josh Slater BVM&S PhD MRCVS

CLINICAL SIGNS OF LIVER FAILURE

Weight loss
Depression
Decrease appetite or anorexia
Hepatic encephalopathy:
     yawning
     head pressing
     aimless manic walking
     circling
     ataxia
Ventral oedema
Photosensitisation
Jaundice
Coagulopathy

LABORATORY INVESTIGATIONS

Plasma liver enzymes
     GGT (gamma glutamyl transferase)
     ALP (alkaline phosphatase)
     AST (aspartate aminotransferase)
     LDH (lactate dehydrogenase)
     GLDH (glutamate dehydrogenase)
     SDH (sorbitol dehydrogenase)
Serum albumin
Serum bilirubin
Serum bile acids
BSP clearance
Liver biopsy / ultrasound

“ None of the laboratory investigations listed here should be used in isolation to investigate horses with suspected liver disease; a full panel of investigations is required to establish an accurate diagnosis and prognosis”

A table of the relative values for tests is available from University of  Liverpool Equine Medicine course notes and Hillyer, M.(2000)

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