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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1094
 
Location: Florida | I have a 20 year old gelding who has with-in the past few months become more and more "off" something was just not quite right.. He is physically sound but real lethargic. He mopes around. He has never been supper energized but not letharigic. He is fat, slicking out nicely now it is wrming up, he has always drank a lot so can't really go by that. No issues with colic, founder, laminitis. Just no energy. His gums have been looking a little pale to me but vet was not concerned. So his latest bloodwork came back low protein, total protein and globulin. He does have IAD and EIPH but has not been ran since January and only 3 runs in the past 2 years. I have started treating for ulcers, will be power packing him as well. Vet thinks Cushings or the dreaded "C" word (a possible itestinal mass) due to age. He looks great for his age, he was feeling good up until a few months ago. He did have an incident around that time, do not know if it is related but he was overdosed by our Dentist (who is a DVM) when sedated for a yearly dental. We almost lost him. Took him 2 weeks to come around and I guess he has really never returned to normal. Anything thoughts are greatly apprcitated. We are running an ACTH for cushings and redoing a CBC/chem in 3 months. I have thought about starting him on red cell or something to give him energy, I am afraid he is just going to give up :( he looks so tired all the time. |
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Blessed 
  
Location: Here |  So sorry. what are you feeding? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1094
Location: Florida | SG. - 2014-03-19 10:56 PM So sorry. what are you feeding?
Manna Pro safe Performace (7 lbs split between 3 feedings) Pasture 12-18 hrs per day. Free choice clean water and salt Free choice grass hay, 5-7lbs orchard/alfalfa daily. Probiotics in feed daily. Just started Gastrix (ulcer treatment from the vet 5 days ago). |
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 Expert
Posts: 1526
Location: Texas | Neigh-lox or an anti-acid. |
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Expert
Posts: 3514
| I would feed a good Sr feed such as ADM Sr Glo. If you think he needs a blood builder Lixotinic is the best. I would call Silver Lining Herbs and see what they would reccomend. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? |
What was the Albumin/Globulin ratio? What were the results on his CBC for hematocrit etc? Normal?
With low Total Protein/Globulin it's clear he is losing protein somewhere. It could possibly be a "leaky gut" whereby the damage to the GI tract from ulceration or other lesions is allowing protein (generally albumin) to seep out and be lost. Did he do a Fecal Blood Test? That would help in the diagnoses of wether it is a GI issue or not.
If it's a GI issue you can provide support to his Gut with pre/pro biotics...and buffering agents like others suggested (neighlox for ex)
The other primary way they can lose protein is through the kidneys. Were those values normal? (BUN Creatinine etc?)
His immune system is likely down with those values being low...so keep that in mind if you take him places or have new horses brought in. IMO you can never go wrong giving Lixitinic. It won't hurt and like another suggested...it may really help build him up. http://www.prnpharmacal.com/liquitinic/equine.php
Best of luck...and keep us posted. These non-specific cases of ADR (Ain't Doin' Right) can be so frustrating.
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| I wonder if he's not low on Iron. Your blood panel will tell you that. If he is, Red Cell or something along that line would help. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1094
Location: Florida | Total protein and globulin were not super low but out of the normal reference range. All other values were in the middle down the board. I have started him on Gastrix daily, he has been on it for 9 days and there is a huge improvement. I did put him on a tiny bit of red cell daily. My mom is a TB person and their fix all is red cell lol. |
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