ABSTRACT
Clinical signs of liver disease There are no pathognomonic signs associated with liver disease or liver failure. Liver disease can be inapparent or manifested by an impressive array of clinical signs, including depression, anorexia, abdominal pain, encephalopathy, weight loss, jaundice/icterus (855), abnormal intestinal motility, abnormal fecal consistency, dehydration, photosensitization, bilateral laryngeal paralysis with dyspnea or severe inspiratory stridor, coagulopathy, dermatitis and pruritus, peripheral edema, oral ulceration, tenesmus, penile prolapse, hemoglobinuria due to a severe hemolytic crisis, pain on deep palpation under the right abdominal rib curvature, fever, and discolored feces in foals. Common neurologic signs are nonspecific and include ataxia, dysmetria, stupor, coma, compulsive circling, head pressing, and prolonged mastication of food without swallowing. Deep palpation of the abdomen in very small horses and foals might reveal abnormal liver size or an infected and pus-filled umbilical vein. Palpation with the hands flat (as opposed to using the fingertips) against the abdominal wall allows optimal exploration due to improved patient compliance. Palpation of foals placed in different positions might also be beneficial. Clinical signs can be acute or chronic and primary or secondary in nature and reflect damage to the biliary system, hepatocytes, or fibrosis of the liver.
