Post by harleydales on Dec 1, 2010 11:50:41 GMT -1
Well, he wasn't getting any better at home despite being fed enough to fuel several Grand National racehorses, so he went off down to the Weipers Centre in Glasgow a fortnight ago. 5 hour trip but he coped well and at that time it wasn't too cold or snowy.
They did laods of tests - live and kidney function is all fine, gluscose absorption fine, several others that I can't remember all fine too.
They tested him for Cushings and his levels were high, but they do rise in the winter. We need to test again in the spring to see if they are still high.
His muscle enzymes were still raised, so they did a working test where they took blood, worked him for 40 mins in trot on the lunge, then re-tested 6 and 24 hours later. The enzymes were still raised but no worse, so that was inconclusive. he didn't shake after the exercise - so has he got over whatever caused that, or is the fat based diet working?
They did an ultrasound of his abdomen, and a camera down into his belly - he has lesions on his belly lining, but he dodn't seem to think it was significant. Nothing showed on the scan.
They tested him for Vit E and Selinuim deficiency and we're still waiting for the results. We're also still waiting for the muscle biopsy results (which could show EPSM, white muscle disease, Cushings and all manner of muscle problems).
They also did a belly tap and withdrew fluid from his innards - I can't just remember the problem here, but it was out of kilter so we've to repeat that in a coule of weeks - the local vet can do it.
Last Friday we went down to get him, and thankl goodness we did because every road from Perth upwards was closed at the weekend! It was a vile trip through ice and snow, but he coped with the aid of a borrowed stable rug, and is now ensconced in the field shelter until his stitches come out.
He's still lean, lost another 10kg while he was there (though I'm not surprised at that) but is brighter now - he was very quiet on Saturday but I suspect he was tired.
So we're not a lot further on really but at least we've ruled one or two things out.
They did laods of tests - live and kidney function is all fine, gluscose absorption fine, several others that I can't remember all fine too.
They tested him for Cushings and his levels were high, but they do rise in the winter. We need to test again in the spring to see if they are still high.
His muscle enzymes were still raised, so they did a working test where they took blood, worked him for 40 mins in trot on the lunge, then re-tested 6 and 24 hours later. The enzymes were still raised but no worse, so that was inconclusive. he didn't shake after the exercise - so has he got over whatever caused that, or is the fat based diet working?
They did an ultrasound of his abdomen, and a camera down into his belly - he has lesions on his belly lining, but he dodn't seem to think it was significant. Nothing showed on the scan.
They tested him for Vit E and Selinuim deficiency and we're still waiting for the results. We're also still waiting for the muscle biopsy results (which could show EPSM, white muscle disease, Cushings and all manner of muscle problems).
They also did a belly tap and withdrew fluid from his innards - I can't just remember the problem here, but it was out of kilter so we've to repeat that in a coule of weeks - the local vet can do it.
Last Friday we went down to get him, and thankl goodness we did because every road from Perth upwards was closed at the weekend! It was a vile trip through ice and snow, but he coped with the aid of a borrowed stable rug, and is now ensconced in the field shelter until his stitches come out.
He's still lean, lost another 10kg while he was there (though I'm not surprised at that) but is brighter now - he was very quiet on Saturday but I suspect he was tired.
So we're not a lot further on really but at least we've ruled one or two things out.
