Hepatic Encephalopathy - Horse

See also Hepatic Encephalopathy Pathology

• the horse may show very little visible neural changes, perhaps an increase in astrocytes

Description

Hepatic encephalopathy is neurological disfunction caused by hepatic disease.

Diagnosis

Clinical Signs

• Depression
• Lethargy
• Head pressing
• Ataxia
• Behavioural changes
• Seizures
• Coma
• Death

Clinical signs associated with hepatic disease

• Weight loos
• Diarrhoea
• Icterus

Prognosis

Prognosis depends on the underlying disease, signs are potentially reversible if the initiating course can be corrected. However as for most hepatic conditions, the damage is advanced by the time clinical signs are ovident, so most hepatic diseases carry a farily poor prognosis.

References

• Knottenbelt, D.C. A Handbook of Equine Medicine for Final Year Students University of Liverpool
• Merck & Co (2008) The Merck Veterinary Manual (Eighth Edition) Merial
• Rose, R. J. and Hodgson, D. R. (2000) Manual of Equine Practice (Second Edition) Sauders.