Standing horse

Digestive system

The liver as central part of the digestive system is a multifunction organ that plays a key role in the horse’s body.

In addition to removing metabolites from the blood, the liver is also responsible for the production of bile, the control of the glucose- and fat-metabolism and for the synthesis of proteins.
The liver also plays a major role in the transformation of several hormones from their native, inactive form to their active form when needed.
Infectious diseases, parasites, medicine abuse and poisoning from plants or fungi as well as many other factors can have a negative impact on liver health.
Signs of liver dysfunction can be emaciation, colic-like pain, and manifestations of neurological deficits in addition to icterus of the mucosa.
However, clinical signs appear late in the process of liver disorders and sometimes the prognosis is difficult wherefore it is recommended to check the vital parameters of the liver once per year to follow-up the parameters in long-term.