Very high ALP

[Mood Swings]

The year isn't over yet....

My surviving filly has been battling low protein levels for the last couple of months. I recieved great news this morning that her total protein is finally starting to rise *phew*. However nothing is ever easy as I have learned, so now her ALP is rediculously high at 1287 (normal is in the 80-240 range). Short of treating her with antibiotics does anyone have any suggestions? These levels are indicative of liver problems. Thank you.

PS she is getting probiotics already and is on omeprazole.

[casallc]

The year isn't over yet....

My surviving filly has been battling low protein levels for the last couple of months. I recieved great news this morning that her total protein is finally starting to rise *phew*. However nothing is ever easy as I have learned, so now her ALP is rediculously high at 1287 (normal is in the 80-240 range). Short of treating her with antibiotics does anyone have any suggestions? These levels are indicative of liver problems. Thank you.

PS she is getting probiotics already and is on omeprazole.

Elevated ALP levels suggest bone and intestinal disorders in
young horses and chronic liver disease in older equines.

[Outermonvolia]

I don't think antibiotics is the answer. Could be a viral infection sort of like human hepatitis.

[Tiz]

What's ALP?

[Outermonvolia]

I think it stands for Alkaline Phosphatase--------- It is a protein enzyme that appears in the blood at a low level and is increased when you have pathology going on in the liver. It is just a marker for liver and sometimes bone pathology.

[Outermonvolia]

You will also get an elevated ALP in young horses that is non pathological. Rapid bone growth will increase the ALP.

[Mood Swings]

Thanks

She had been treated with long term antibiotics because of lawsonia affecting our weanlings as well as some neighbouring farms. Her protein levels dropped as a result of the lawsonia. Perhaps because she is now recovering and her protein levles are increasing she is having a compensatory growth spurt - causing rapid bone growth?

As for intestinal disorders - lawsonia causes protein loss (which happens through the gut), that has certainly wrecked havoc with her system.

Any suggestion on how to treat?

She gets MSM in her feed, she turned out during the day/ in at night, she is fed a balanced grain intended for young and growing horses and is fed three meals daily. She has been tubed with manure It really has helped!