Equine Leukocytoclastic vasculitis

LEC

LEC

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Sensitive horse picked it up last year and we managed to control it but it’s come back again this year. My vet says it’s been a real issue this year and seen more than ever.

I am borrowing some silver socks off @TheMule but any other things people have had high success with protecting the legs with?

We have avoided the scabby stage but just have a very pink leg. I am picking up steroid this week but prevention is better than cure. We have been sudocreme up to now but it’s not doing enough.
 
Once I got to the stage of no scabs and fully healed skin I used Shires summer socks to just keep the legs covered and the sun off. They were no good to use with sores but significantly easier to than the Silver whinneys to get on and off.
 
I can't help with leg coverings and this must be a bit of a nightmare for you. Ludo went photosensitive when fed Agrobs Weisencobs which are stuffed full of legumes. If you haven't already I would remove all legumes from his diet at least to try it. I hope you find a solution.
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Filtabac's been a game-changer for a horse on my yard with LV - gets his legs smothered in it to prevent the photosensitivity reactions, and it saves him from the rubbing he got with fly/UV boots before.
 
stangs said:
Filtabac's been a game-changer for a horse on my yard with LV - gets his legs smothered in it to prevent the photosensitivity reactions, and it saves him from the rubbing he got with fly/UV boots before.
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I also used it with good effect but you cant get hold of it any more. I dont know whether its been discontinued altogether. I hope not.
 
I wonder why its so bad this year? If we knew what was causing it it might be easier to prevent or control. Mine developed vasculitis in August 23 and it lasted until January. August 24 he started with sore heels but luckily with sunblock applied in the morning and the vets own mudfever cream (contains antibiotic and steroid) we kept it under control and it never developed into the full blown vasculitis.

But it happened at exactly the same time each year. It appears to be caused by photosensitivity as it only affects his white legs, but the sun had been shining for quite a few months before August arrived, so I think there must be an additional factor.

I also put him on Trinity Consultants L94 after seeing it recommended on here. Thats when the vasculitis started to clear up the first time round. The second year I put him on it as soon as it started.
 
I had it and managed to get rid of it with cream from the vet and then by following Dr Knott's advice which was to keep light off it for a whole year. I think I had the vet out in about the Dec and kept silver whinneys on until the following Dec. They may be a total PITA but they are a pain that work. :D:D
 
Are you low in copper? Lady with chestnut mare & white socks next door has issues every summer. We persuaded her to supplement copper & it goes (yet to persuade her to supplement all year round!)

But we are very low directly around me & she uses hay from her fields so no chance of it helping.
 
A friends horse had a photo sensitivey on her white sock and she used aroma heel to help clear it up. Only thing that worked after £1500 spent on stuff with the vets
 
Mine had it the first year I had him, just on his white socks. Used filtabac and it cleared up though I also started feeding minerals so Don't know if they made a difference. He's not had it again. Touch wood.
 
SEL said:
Are you low in copper? Lady with chestnut mare & white socks next door has issues every summer. We persuaded her to supplement copper & it goes (yet to persuade her to supplement all year round!)

But we are very low directly around me & she uses hay from her fields so no chance of it helping.
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High in iron will also create low in copper in the horse.
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Silver whinneys are the only real help when the horse has an outbreak and preventative for horses with LV. Filtabac is excellent for sun block once the soreness is under control. Lotions and potions off the shelve are useless.

It is a nightmare disease and a life long struggle once you are tackling it. The only antibiotic that helped my horse was Karidox.

You have to keep any form of UV off the legs, even at this time of year. Over the decade I dealt with it I had years when I could control it until quite late in the summer but other years when it was raging in April. Other factors that would irritate is long wispy grass, I kept his paddocks mown so nothing was touching his legs.
 
I have picked up shires UV coverings today but can’t get filtabac for love or money hence I looked at ingredients and went for sudocream.

I am trying to avoid oral steroids as would be a nightmare for me with competing but hoping I can get the cream to settle it. I think we might biopsy to see if can get some more answers. Will discuss with my vet.

Definitely not missing vits or mins as I am completely anal about a balanced diet and all correctly fed as she is such an allergic horse. I feed her gut stuff as well. She is the one who had Lepto so I think she just has a shit immune system which we manage very carefully. She has to be fed very carefully, nothing above 8% starch as had ulcers.

I do wonder if it’s a regumate issue as gone out of control every time she is on it. I don’t keep her on it all year as she only needs it start of eventing season and end.
 
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