Chronic cellulitis

[hottoddy]

Friends horse has had a few bouts of cellulitis over the years, all resolved with usual treatment within a week to ten days.
Current one is now in week five, vet has been brilliant, targeted anti-biotic, steroids, diuretics, pain relief.
Owner is dedicated, hosing, ice boots, walking every 2 hours but after an initial improvement nothing now is changing.
Vet has suggested a second opinion but where to go? Does anyone know a vet with particular knowledge/experience of this condition we could speak too? Or does anyone have any ideas of further therapies/ treatment we could try?

 

[lialls]

Are they sure its cellulitis this time? Vasculitis can present in a similar way, keeping sun light off the affected area(bandaging of the legs) and cutting out alfalfa/lucerne and molasses in feed has shown to resolve it in some cases - depending on the trigger for it.

I found Three Counties Equine Vets in Tewkesbury to be very knowledgeable on the slightly more obscure aliments so that's where I would go for a second opinion.

You could also try an Arc Equine (don't use on the affected legs though), this would stimulate the cells to heal but if the horse is reacting to sunlight or diet it's unlikely to have an effect until these are removed.

 

[Nocturnal]

I had a horse which kept getting cellulitis. In the end changing the antibiotic used and a homebrew mix of flammazine, trimed and betnovate applied topically got rid of it, in concert with some immune boosting supplements. If that’s all been tried I would go with the second opinion.

 

[FabioandFreddy]

What antibiotics are being used? Pretty much anything other than Baytril won't resolve it (trust me - i'm sadly an expert on Cellulitis now thanks to Fabio!) Needs to be an extended course of at least a month, even if looking better a lot sooner, carry on with it! We also used a vets concoction of Flamazine, steroid and antibiotic, put on then cling film wrapped.