Depigmentation around eye

[cloclo40350]

Hi all,
I just imported a Belgian Warmblood, for the story he’s coming 4, in very good apparent health, he didn’t came skinny nor out of shape.
However he has a depigmentation around the eyes, cf pictures attached, and one little one inside the nose.
I know people think about vitiligo very often but it doesn’t look as « round » and « patchy » as vitiligo…it’s on both eyes, very different on each eye. I can’t tell if it’s growing as I just got him. I’m wondering what this could be coming from, and if there would be any treatments, it is not hurting him or bothering but if it’s a sign of something else from the inside I’d like to help him.
He’s been mostly on grass in Europe as a yearling.
Thank you all for your help!!

 

[daydreamer]

hi, I have no answers but have had similar with my youngster. I have had him since he was 6 months old (Dec 2018). In January 2023 he developed similar markings to the ones in your picture. He had been in the same home for as long as I had had him but in Oct '22 had gone away to be backed for 1 month. I thought it was vitiligo which I read up on. I gave him some extra copper but it is hard to tell if that had an effect. A vet said if it wasn't bothering him just don't worry about it. A different vet at another point said it was auto immune, triggered by a virus but again not to worry. We moved yards in Feb '23 and the pigment slowly started coming back (although he developed some patches around his mouth and nostrils) and by about August '23 his eyes were black again. In August/September we went back to the original yard for a month then moved to another new yard). This winter he has lost the pigment around his eyes again - I didn't worry about it so much so didn't notice exactly when. I've heard on the first yard that some horses on the original yard came back with raised liver enzyme levels on testing. Due to something unrelated mine had a blood test in Jan '24 and his liver enzymes were slightly raised, retested mid-Feb and still slightly high. I did see some mentions that vitiligo in humans may be related to liver issues but I didn't research it in depth. So my thoughts are a) it could be related to liver problems and mineral imbalance caused by something at the original yard b) it could be caused by an auto-immune or genetic issue c) it could be related to stress d) it could be a combination of all these things or something completely different!

So, not much help to you other than to say it doesn't seem to have bothered him and it did go away at some point. About 5 vets have seen him whilst he has had it and none of them were remotely concerned and in fact a few of them said they liked the way it looked!

 

[cloclo40350]

Hi @daydreamer,
Thank you so much for your answer, yes I think I’ll see how it evolves and maybe have his blood tested if this doesn’t disappear in a few months by itself.
The big change of feed and weather may have an impact as well so fingers crossed that it will solve by itself…

 

[GreyDot]

Interesting - my youngster has also had some pigment loss around his eyes this year. He is rising 4, I have had him since a foal. very similar depigmentation at OP, just slightly less. He has been on the same yard for the last 3 years, in the same herd, I wonder if it is a seasonal thing or a genetic thing. Interesting to read above comment about raised liver enzymes. Mine is in good health, etc. but will be keeping an eye on.... his eye

 

[cloclo40350]

Hi @GreyDot thank you for your answer. Would you happen to have pictures? And did it appear all of a sudden?

 

[daydreamer]

Here is Duncan last year. To be honest there is probably more loss of pigment this year as well as some patches of white hair but I haven't been taking pictures this year! I hope it goes again as I don't like it but lots of other people have said they really like it!

 

[cloclo40350]

And in summer it goes back to all black? That’s unbelievable !! But it gives me hope…

 

[daydreamer]

And in summer it goes back to all black? That’s unbelievable !! But it gives me hope…

Yes last summer I think it was pretty much back to normal. To be fair his summer coat is much lighter so it would be less noticeable anyway. Who knows what it will do this year I have got more used to it and don't really notice it now.

 

[GreyDot]

Took these this morning so apologies for poor lighting. Will take some better ones in proper daylight!

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipMLPsypwz7W_JUKFwuLmRNYFonfi7zcFxUFVAVm
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipMLPsypwz7W_JUKFwuLmRNYFonfi7zcFxUFVAVm

 

[GreyDot]

Better photos here - possibly less obvious due to his colouring but this has been a recent appearance

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

My boy has this. He's a 6 yr old knabstrupper and I've only had him a few months. I will be interested to see if it changes throughout the year. To be honest, I hadn't really thought anything about it other than it was because he's a spotty

 

[GreyDot]

Just wondering how people are getting on who posted on this thread earlier in the year. My horse's depigmentation has increased quite dramatically around his eyes and muzzle and it extremely noticeable and considerable