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  Discussion on Antibiotics and compromised liver
Author Message
Member:
Shansew

Posted on Sunday, Feb 9, 2003 - 11:44 am:

I have a mare that has elevated GGT levels (175) and we suspect an abcess or possible bone infection in the foot. She is also foundered. We pulled the shoe and can't find any sign of an abcess. Two weeks ago we had her on SMZ-TMP for three days and she was getting much better in the foot, but this is when her GGT level went from her usual high of 75 to 175, so we took her off the meds and sent her to the state university. They saw no sign of infection or abcess, but did say she had bone de-mineralization in her coffin bone. They did a sonogram of her liver and found it too small to biopsy safely while tranquilized. My local vet and I still seem to think she has some type of infection in the foot. My question is...what is the safest antibiotic to use to treat the foot (if we go that route??) that will do the least damage to the liver?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Feb 10, 2003 - 8:30 am:

Considering the type organisms likely found to be in a foot abscess: gram positive anerobes, it is hard to beat procaine penicillin and it is not considered to be hepatotoxic.
DrO
New Member:
cayman

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 3, 2010 - 7:32 am:

Hi Dr. O,
My twenty six year old gelding has spent the past two weeks in the hospital being treated for an especially bad case of aspiration pneumonia following an episode of choke. They didn't expect him to live, but he did. Anyway, he has been on three antibiotics for two weeks now. He was discharged to home a few days ago. His appetite has been poor since being home. My biggest concern is that his liver values were normal up until a few days ago. They are now elevated and I am concerned that the antibiotics may be causing this. Would you try to get him off of the antibiotics as soon as possible? If the antibiotics are causing the elevated liver values, how long before permanent damage is done to the liver?
Thanks,
Mary
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 3, 2010 - 7:55 pm:

Welcome to Horseadvice Mary,
I believe we can help you with your question but let me get you started off right so you can get the best answer as quick as possible.

You will get more responses if you start your own discussion rather than post at the bottom on another member's discussion. Each discussion is "owned" by the original poster and all replies in that discussion should either directly or indirectly address the concerns of the original poster.

We do have a better article covering your topic where you can start your discussion. You will find it at HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Colic, Diarrhea, GI Tract » Mouth, Esophagus, and Liver » Liver Disease and Failure. This will be a Article Page on this topic. Below the article you will find a list of already existing discussions on this topic. Under this list you will find the "Start New Discussion" button. You should first review the article as it will have important information on your subject. Next check the titles of the already existing discussions to see if your question has already been answered.

If your question remains unanswered, now is the time to Start a New Discussion. Select a short title that describes your specific concern. A title like "Help!!!" does not help others find your specific topic. Instead something like "Ace for Colic?" allows others to rapidly find and understand what your topic is about just by viewing the title. This is likely to bring more responses from those with some experience with your topic and allows members to find answers to their questions quicker.
DrO
New Member:
cayman

Posted on Thursday, Aug 5, 2010 - 11:20 pm:

Dr. O.,
I have moved my question to the article you suggested.
Thanks,
Mary
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