Eye problems and immune system

[Ant123]

My horse has been suffering from terrible eye problems for 3 weeks. Tiny ulcers in both eyes which have healed and returned. The vet has now suggested that he may have an issue with his immune system and prescribed a cream called Optimmune.

Firstly , has anyone experienced this before and if so are there any supplements I could give to support his immunity and secondly, could there be something in his feed which may trigger his system. He eats thunderbrooks chaff and synergy.

I understand it’s a stab in the dark type of post but any experience or advice is gratefully received.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Arabi didn't get eye problems but he had reoccurring viruses that effected his breathing and we think was connected to the guttural pouch infections he kept getting, vet thought they were due to a comprised immune system.

All this started when he was quite young vet told me to put him on a high spect vitamin and mineral supplement and feed a high dose of aloe vera juice.

We had several years of him not being quite right when he was younger but the viruses stopped and he hasn't any more infections, his 20 now and I always keep him on a balancer now and he gets ad lib hay, I also feed both my horses oily herbs now and really think they have helped with overall health.

He also had sarcoids that cropped up normally around the times when he was unwell, luckily they all seemed to go on there own.

Has your horse had any other issues that you think could be connected to low immunity and have you run any bloods?

 

[Ant123]

Thank you so much - that’s really interesting. My boy is an Irish draught who has been in really good health. He is always a bit itchy so maybe on reflection there are some histamine issues but no virus, worms , stress or other illnesses- nothing in his environment has changed so I’m wondering whether it’s his feed.

 

[Ant123]

Would you mind giving me the details of the oily herbs and the aloe Vera you use

 

[dominobrown]

Yes my mare has this.. optiimmune didn't work but another eye cream did. It was caused EHV (equine herpes virus, but not the dangerous one 5 or 9). She is currently in the process of being referred to a speacilsit.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Would you mind giving me the details of the oily herbs and the aloe Vera you use

I buy oregano, thyme,rosemary and spearmint in 1kg bags from wholefoods on line then mix it all up and feed a 60ml heaped scoop per day.

Aloe vera I buy on Amazon 2litres for under £20 in times of stress or illness I would feed 40 to 60 mls a day, I will post the link on here.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pack-Aloe-Juice-1000ml-BUNDLE/dp/B015G5YEKA/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_pp?crid=3VPG47KA2SSX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.6SDjXn203EQI5_xcCGnOZiTNYmbPbUsHkbBMerDXkli_spO6UZCbgJBrxbhuIVT31atil27IxhtK0JxOVFVKDXAKOD7IhotXRSkkLJSmW6WycUfgqjUqfM_pJ-KkJkB5EN0c4uNmJr5c-048BEcJxuyeORDT6oWS8Sp8qoXn8580MtDaUb7WlUJw7gd0Y3Mgrkbs5N6EItW4frRjqmyd4g.z0j1oxLzZA3huB4scwrnVq2qT1Hp457QLjBEIq2ehRw&dib_tag=se&keywords=aloe+vera+juice&qid=1722979847&sprefix=alo%2Caps%2C318&sr=8-3

 

[Hobo2]

When my pony had an immune system flare up vet said not to feed any immune boosting supplements ect as the fact her immune system was going nuts meant it was already working. Which sort of made sense. It took a long course of oral steroids to settle things down but it has touch wood never returned. Hers was skin related ie mud fever type problem.
On the subject of eyes I myself had an immune flare up which did indeed affect my eyes a few years ago mine needed 6 months eye drops to settle I am guessing they were steroid drops but I can't remember at my age a few years was I think 20 years. So yes eye problems can be immune related and follow your vets advice to get pony back on track again.

 

[SEL]

My Appy had ongoing eye problems as a youngster (she's 14 now). Her diet needs to be super simple to avoid getting itchy skin and reacting to sunlight. Linseed and alfalfa were triggers.

She's on simple system hay cobs and Timothy grass chaff and it's the best her skin has been. We had a minor flare up recently so possibly something in the hay but I know to get piriton into her now.

Pink skin Appys are susceptible but it is worth stripping back the diet for yours in case there is a trigger.

 

[Ant123]

Oh that’s really interesting what you say about the linseed as it is the main ingredients of the thunderbrooks synergy which was a query for me. I love simple systems but they don’t supply to my region so I’ve done a lot of research and found that thunderbrooks is the simplest I can get. Thank you

 

[Noble]

My horse had a similar issue, reoccurring ulcers. and was given optimmune ointment for many years. At best guess, after thousands spent on investigations, the conclusion was Autoimmune Keratitis, a disease (after discounting forms of EHV). The ointment did work but was expensive, After six months of giving it 3 times daily tapering down to once a day I was able to just monitor him and start the drops at the first sign of an occurrence, puffy lower lid. The drops were a third of the price using a prescription and ordering on line. Sorry I can't help with diet, my horse tended to be triggered when stressed or low, coat changes included. He was in work until he was 25 and lived until 29 when PTS due to an unrelated issue.

 

[SEL]

Oh that’s really interesting what you say about the linseed as it is the main ingredients of the thunderbrooks synergy which was a query for me. I love simple systems but they don’t supply to my region so I’ve done a lot of research and found that thunderbrooks is the simplest I can get. Thank you

Linseed is one of those things that we all get told is a good thing for horses, but I've had two now where it's created skin issues rather than helping them.

Don't Thunderbrooks do a grass pellet? It might be worth trying a simple diet just to see if it helps.