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PG . 29
Foals can be born with shunts that bypass the liver , and failure of development of a portion of the liver . Another common condition in foals is rupture of the liver leading to rapidly fatal internal haemorrhage observed from the day of birth to four months of age and often due to birth trauma or being stepped on or kicked by another horse . Quarter Horse foals with inherited glycogen-branching enzyme deficiency show liver failure at around two months of age .
Although liver disease is common in horses and foals suffering from other serious conditions , the liver has the capacity to regenerate under certain conditions , and progression to liver failure is fortunately rare . Also , most functions are not impaired until greater than 80 % of the liver is damaged .
Pasture-associated liver disease is not uncommon in equine practice , and mould on grasses and feeds produce poisonous substances – mycotoxins - such as aflatoxins , which can cause liver disease .
Mycotoxins cause outbreaks of liver disease , rarely individual cases . Mycotoxins are naturally occurring toxic metabolites released by moulds and fungi . They grow on a variety of feed and crops , most commonly in wet and humid conditions . In Australia , mycotoxin levels in feeds and pasture are well below the levels which are usually considered as critical . Feed contamination is more likely to originate from processed grains or feed than grass or hay that undergoes little or no storage or processing .*
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2025 AQHA ~ JANUARY / FEBRUARY ISSUE