Page 785 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

• chemical toxins.

• mycotoxins (produced by fungi)
VetBooks.ir When damaged, the liver has enormous capacity for regeneration. When this capacity is

exceeded, the damaged cells (called hepatocytes) are replaced by non-functional fibrous
tissue. Signs develop when more than 70% of the cells have been replaced and there are
insufficient healthy hepatocytes to cope with the functions listed above.

Clinical signs

The clinical signs are variable. They arise due to one or more of the following.

• Destruction of the liver cells.
• Obstruction to bile flow.

• Excessive accumulation of fats.

Some of the following will be seen.
• Chronic weight loss.

• Lack of appetite.

• Abdominal pain leading to colicky episodes.

• Diarrhoea.
• Ventral oedema (collection of fluid under the skin of the lowest parts of the abdomen).

• Photosensitization of non-pigmented skin, which results in areas that are inflamed and

sore in response to exposure to sunlight (see page 584). The horse may be itchy and
uncomfortable. (Figure 17.15 and see Figures 18.21 and 18.22)

• Jaundice (Figure 17.16). The whites of the eyes and the mucous membranes of the mouth

and eyes have a yellowish tinge due to abnormal accumulation of bile pigment. However,
this is not a definitive sign and it can also arise if the horse is starved for 24 hours or the
horse experiences abnormal destruction of red blood cells.

• fever is possible with bacterial or viral infection.