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Post by watermarkfarm on Aug 21, 2007 12:01:42 GMT -5
Calling all herbalists....
My horse Reggie had a bladder scope as a followup to his bladder stone surgery 6 months ago....
He has some areas inside his bladder that are not healing well --- a couple of 2cm lesions that look a bit ulcerated. They have been biopsied and I will know soon if they are anything more than areas slow to heal....
Meantime, what else beside Corn Silk would be good to give him to **soothe** the lining of the bladder wall?
I don't want to give Uva Ursi....an astringent.....or do I?
Any ideas? This is out of my realm.
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Post by agilitygal on Aug 21, 2007 12:27:15 GMT -5
I don't know about horses. . .but, I've had experience with my special-needs dogs. I haven't been able to find adequate support in my area from vets as they have no time to research such things as alternative healing. Most of my recent work has been done via the internet and many books. What I've used for myself and on my dogs for additional healing for many things (which would include internal mucous membrane healing): yucca, slippery elm, marshmallow root, Vit. E. . .and, I am sorely tempted to try Acai Berry extract on my recovering coccidia rescue puppy. Acai Berry has worked wonders on myself these past 6 months (I can heal cuts and owies in about 2 days. . .pretty good for a leukemia body!). Search the internet for alternative healing for horses. I have an acpuncture vet working on one of my dogs who also specializes in Chinese herbal medicine and that has worked wonders on two of my dogs. I currently have one dog on Ayurvedic herbs (India ancient healing protocol) and she is responding very favorably. I just recently was researching the internet and found a website that tweaked my attention. I ordered the healing clay and all 4 dogs are currently on that. Another product I will order soon is called StemEnhance which has some pretty amazing testimonials. . .including veterinarians. It is extracted from blue-green algae and proven by scientific study to enhance repair by your own body's stem cell activation. Website address: www.thepetalternative.com. They do make StemEhance for horses! Just found it. Website address: www.stempets.com. I have learned over the years that allopathic practioners do not have all the answers. They primarily treat symptoms and acute conditions. . .not the underlying causes. However, having said that, please know that I do use both allopathic and alternative therapies. . .and, quite often at the same time depending on what I'm treating. Just re-read your post. I see that you would like to use corn silk. My understanding is that is a diuretic. . .not necessarily a soother. Uva Ursi is more a tonic and diurectic. . .not a soother. Of course, both of these are used in many of the same formulas for bladder problems. Most herbs are used in formulas as they work synergistically with each other (they help each other out). I'm working with an Ayurvedic/Naturopathic vet 400 miles away from me. I took Misty over once so he could get a visual on her. But, his recommendations are based upon telephone consultations and blood work. There must be vets, especially in the CA area (can't remember if you are in OR or CA), that would help in the same way. I think you are in an especially good situation as Reggie has had the surgery, the scope, and the care so you have up-to-date info. Please hug Reggie for me. He's always in my mind and heart. I can't wait to hear about next year's show awards! |
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Post by quatzie on Aug 21, 2007 13:40:46 GMT -5
I belive that HayforHorses is a herbalists. She may be able to help with your question if you PM a message to her...
Jeannie
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Post by cutiepiepmu on Aug 21, 2007 15:30:11 GMT -5
Anything happening with ulcerations in the body -bladder or otherwise tells me that something else is going on. I would be working on the immune and endrocrine system with this horse. What diet do you currently feed - including hay/forage? What medications/herbs/supplements are you feeding?
This is certainly not a common thing with animals in general - so I would be recommending doing a full blood workup - not just the basics. Ask for liver/kidney function, cell counts, as well as a basic mineral study.
Does this horse have anything else obvious going on?
Sara in WA
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Post by watermarkfarm on Aug 22, 2007 12:08:14 GMT -5
The horse does not present any clinical signs that would indicate bladder pain/trouble. He is a really healthy, vibrant guy currently being ridden 1st level dressage and on trails. He is 21 years old, a TB gelding.
Background on the large urolith that was removed in Feb is that it was BIG (baseball size) and Ridge had to wait *too long* to have it removed, meaning clinical signs presented in June 06 and the stone was not removed via perineal urithrotomy until Feb 07 due to financial and logical issues (this horse was rescued from auction). The stone was adhered to the bottom of the bladder (where the lesions now are). The surgeon removed the top portion of the stone easily, but the base, which was stuck to the bladder wall, was "the hardest stone I have ever seen" according to surgeon, who done 36 surgeries like this (a lot). It took some work and had to be fractured and pulled out in pieces, with wires. So....that stone caused quite a bit of long-term trauma ---- I had to keep this horse confined and very quiet at my house while waiting on surgery.
As is typical with bladder stones, the bladder atrophies around the stone (the body's attempt to push it out). So Ridge has a VERY small bladder (still), although according to the vet, that is better than one that is too big.
One the scope, you can see some "skid marks" from the equipment used in the surgeries, but they are fading/healing. The lesions look pretty angry. *******The lesions are present in the area where the stone was adhered to the bladder wall*******
Ridge eats orchard grass hay, some grass hay pellets, a bit of rice bran and a bit of TDI senior. He is out on pasture 12 hours, too, which in CA means a dry lot at this point in the year.
One of the signs of squamous cell carcinoma in the bladder is blood in the urine, which he does not have.
We did full blood panel, urinalysis, biopsy, etc. Am waiting to hear back. I do think his urine looks a bit more cloudy than it should at the end of the urine stream. But the ultrasound and scope did not show any significant sediment.
Meantime, am looking at things I can do to soothe the bladder lining. The vet is supportive of this. She is consulting with the surgeon who did the surgery this week (he is hard to reach) but wants me to explore more holistic ways to get these lesions healed while I am waiting.
Katie
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