A real rareity?

[ashcass]

My 23 year old Shetland was diagnosed as having Neutropenia (for a while is wasthought to be Pemphigus ) recently, which in short, means he has abnormally low white blood cell count and is suseptable to infections etc. He also has a fast rate of regrowth, his hooves grow quickly but are cracked and lumpy, as are his heels. He has lost his chestnuts and ergots (they are generally just scabs) and he has flaky skin in the back of his legs (made worse by wet) and he has fine skin on his nosewhich cuts or scrapes easily. it took the vet alongtime to diagnose, (several biopsies ets) his case is being looked at by the vet hospital in Liverpool and the blacksmith is doing the best he can. He is not in any pain (unless a crack spreads down the hoof or something opens up wound wise) but then he is given pain killers for feet trimming etc. The vet is reluctant to put him on steriods because he has had laminitis in the past and theres a worry that they will trigger a bout of laminitis. I just wondered if anyone else had experienced such a thing and what they did because Im told its quite a rare disorder? Im fully aware that the progniosis isnt great but hes a tough cookie so hes getting every chance!

 

[BASDCS]

Can't help you on condition but my mare was on steroids for heaves several years with no ill effects. Talk we went to said that the risk of laminitis was based on one small and unrepresentative study. Worth asking your vet to talk to local vet college for most recent advice?

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

I've never heard of that condition but my rescued mare who has significant liver damage is on echinacea to boost her body's immune system. Dodson & Horrell do a really high grade tub that lasts for ages as the amount you need is only a tiny scoopful. Boosting her immune system may help your girl with infections. Have you spoken to Prof Derek Knottenbelt at Liverpool Uni? He is a world expert on so many serious equine illnesses and yet he will find the time to talk to anyone. He gave first hand advice re my rescued mare who has ragwort poisoning and we have slowly pulled her back from certain death to a carefully managed tightrope walk of reasonable health. Just to note: my mare came to me with dreadful open sores over her body which were caused by photosensitivity from the ragwort. No chance ponio has eaten ragwort is there? Please let us know how ponio gets on x

 

[ashcass]

Actually it's professor Knottenbelt who is studying my pony's case but it does have the vet and him to a degree scratching their heads. I was told that there were less than a dozen horses diagnosed with this condition. They are unsure of what causes it but my pony literally went from being fine to having this condion severely over a few days, it was that quick and that severe. It's being managed but it is just the weirdest thing. Im having a set of hi-res photos taken in a few weeks (he has them done every few months to monitor the condion), so if anyone is interested I'll post them on here. It's the most bizarrre condion tho.Ragwort was ruled out actually. Thanks for the tip on the Dodson and Horrell stuff tho, will look into that.