Chronic Progressive Lymphoedema

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Posting on behalf of a friend whose heavy cob mare has struggled with severe feather mite infestation for years. Since my friend has owned her (2 years), she has tried to keep on top of the mite infestation but the skin underneath was already badly damaged with heavy scarring and thickening. The condition appears to have suddenly taken a turn for the worse, possibly aggravated by the change to winter management when the mare is stabled for longer periods. The mare now has swollen legs, a secondary infection in the damaged tissue and is clearly unhappy. She is on antibiotics and has had skin swabs taken. The vets are querying chronic progressive (pastern?) lymphoedema which my friend has googled. She's now terrified as some sites appear to say it can be terminal.

Has anyone any experience of this distressing condition? Outcomes, good or bad? Thanks all.

 

[Nailed]

Not much experienc eof CPL but to me It has always reminded me of lymphangitis. If it is similar then, Im afraid, my story is bad. Ted has Chronic Lymphangitis, he suffered badly with it, for many years, until it became unbearable and he was PTS back in May.

Lou x

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Oh bloody hell Lou. So sorry hun. Think I'll keep that one to myself for now.

 

[Nailed]

Probably best hun. Management advice I can and will happily do. It is managable in most cases, Just not in all.
This is my group on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=47294843701&ref=ts

Im also in the process of writting an article for MrsM;s site and trying to set up a support group.
Lou x

 

[Yertis]

Don't despair, have been controlling this condition for 6 years on 14 yr old HW Irish Cob who had it for at least 3 yrs prior to me buying her. She's fine, happy & working.
1st thing get the legs clipped out (mine had to be sedated by the vet) don't Hibiscrub or anything drying, shampoo legs with a human anti dandruff to loosen the dry skin plus a session of descabbing with Muddy Marvel is good. Make sure all mites dead, Dectomax injection doesn't work, think it's due to the skin folds, use Frontline (expensive) or cattle Spot On 10ml dribbled down back of each leg, 10 days later worm with an Ivermectin wormer, kills mites from inside. Then start work on massaging legs with moisturiser to condition the skin. Will have to keep this up for rest of horses life.
e-mail if you want details of what is in the moisturiser, easy to do your own.

 

[hpowell]

Hi
do you mind me asking the breed of your friend's cob? To date CPL has only been found in certain breeds of horse. I have just been working on this condition at UCDavis and if it is appearing in horses other than the breeds we know of, this is important information. On the other hand, there are other conditions which superficially resemble CPL and if your friend's horse is of an unaffected breed, this could be the problem. Being familiar with the disease and horses with it I would be happy to talk with any vets who may be wanting further information about it.