Horse with latex allergy?

[Replay]

I dont know if this is a thing - has anyone experienced this? Horse has a sensitive mouth, so I have all his bits wrapped in Sealtex bit wrap ( 3 different bits - flatwork, jumping, lungeing). He has been getting an allergic reaction to something, sores in mouth, inflamed mucous membranes, itchy, and is hating having wind on his face. He has also become extremely reactive when ridden. We have been investigating the reactive behaviour - vet has checked soundness, saddle fit checked, physio been. Have also stripped his feed and management down to the simplest to avoid common allergens. But we have not been getting to the bottom of it. Vet is coming out again today. However I have just seen the following statement on the Sealtex information " Sealtex is made of pure latex. If you or your horse have a latex allergy, Sealtex latex bandages may not be the best solution for you." My question is, am I clutching at straws, or is this really a thing in horses? I know humans can be allergic to latex......

 

[ycbm]

I don't see why a horse shouldn't get a latex allergy, but I think Sealtex has been discontinued, so you will need a different solution for the bit anyway. I would certainly stop using it, you'll soon know.
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[Replay]

Thanks @ycbm Yes I have removed the sealtex from the bits and am keeping fingers crossed. However I was wondering if anyone else had come across this - before the vet rolls her eyes at me!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

If the packaging suggests that latex allergy in horses is a possibility, I would take their word for it. Anybody can be allergic to anything, really and latex is a common allergen. The horses coat would probably protect him from latex against the body.

 

[ycbm]

Thanks @ycbm Yes I have removed the sealtex from the bits and am keeping fingers crossed. However I was wondering if anyone else had come across this - before the vet rolls her eyes at me!

As PaS says, show the vet the packaging.

I've just done a Google and there are lots of references to latex being a trigger for equine asthma.

 

[Replay]

Well the vet didnt roll her eyes! In fact she confirmed that a latex allergy is a thing and yes, he probably has it. (Every day is a school day with horses!)

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Well the vet didnt roll her eyes! In fact she confirmed that a latex allergy is a thing and yes, he probably has it. (Every day is a school day with horses!)

At least the problem is fairly easy to rectify. I hope everything clears up quickly.

 

[Hallo2012]

Well the vet didnt roll her eyes! In fact she confirmed that a latex allergy is a thing and yes, he probably has it. (Every day is a school day with horses!)

if you have any sealtex you want to get rid of now please message me!have one that cannot be ridden without it and thus stockpiling!!!!!

 

[PurBee]

Me and OH both have reactions to latex. It’s the proteins in it apparently that cause allergy response in some.
Also discovered synthetic latex i also react to, because there’s a protein used in that, thats the same as real latex. Although it’s considered to be a ‘less allergy’ protein to the ‘main’ ones in real latex.
Bought an item from a seller, and couldnt breathe that evening! Messaged seller asking to confirm its synthetic as it was a horrendous reaction of throat closing, difficulty breathing, dry cough - she assured me she made sure to get synthetic latex so latex allergy customers could buy her items. Thats when i discovered the protein similarities with both types.
Worth steering clear of both types, real and synthetic if there is an allergy to the real.

I’ve never heard of a horse with a latex allergy though!

I do wonder if there’s a link between tick-borne Alpha-Gal syndrome and latex. I never used to be allergic to latex, used gloves through my previous career before farming in tick-central. I’ve been bitten a lot by ticks here since, and have sensitivity to foods i didnt before. Sensitivity to latex too, quite a bad reaction.
The human Alpha-Gal syndrome from tick bites is well documented and studied, yet barely diagnosed as doctors only think lyme disease from ticks, when their saliva brings a whole host of possible issues with it, aside from lyme.

It makes me wonder if horses, or other grazers of tick fields, maybe have reactions in a different way and develop weird allergies because of tick bites and the associated alpha-gal complications?
Alpha gal is found in red meat, and mammals, except humans. So if the horse body develops an allergy to alpha-gal via a tick bite, and as its muscle has alpha-gal in it naturally - then we’d have auto-immune type situation occurring. We may well be looking at the causes of PSSM and protein losing enteropathy-type conditions, as they would involve alpha-gal. If these horses have been bitten by ticks, perhaps there’s some involvement of alpha-gal allergy going on thats not yet been measured.
PSSM is a carb storage issue, and alpha-gal is a carb….in muscle. If the body attacks this in a horse we would likely see carb storage issues, protein binding issues in muscle.
Im musing aloud really, alpha-Gal in grazers is barely written of because we dont look for it, and only just recognising how massive an issue it is for humans.

Allergies are interesting because they seem to set-off a stream of allergy responses to other things once ok with, so presumably horses are equally susceptible to that happening with them.

 

[ycbm]

if you have any sealtex you want to get rid of now please message me!have one that cannot be ridden without it and thus stockpiling!!!!!

I've just been and looked and found almost a full roll in the garage. You teach a friend of mine, I'll leave it with her to give to you if you can wait, or happily send it if you PM me your address. ETA or I can leave it at SPF if you're going there soon. @Hallo2012

 

[Hallo2012]

I've just been and looked and found almost a full roll in the garage. You teach a friend of mine, I'll leave it with her to give to you if you can wait, or happily send it if you PM me your address. ETA or I can leave it at SPF if you're going there soon. @Hallo2012

no rush if its easiest to give to her? let me know how much you want and ill give her cash to pass back to you #dodgydeal

 

[ycbm]

no rush if its easiest to give to her? let me know how much you want and ill give her cash to pass back to you #dodgydeal

I don't need paying, it's being wasted here, you're very welcome. I'm lunching with the person she liveries the horse with, where you teach her on August 14th, I'll give it to her. I hope you can find an alternative eventually, it's a nightmare if you need it and can't get it.
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[Hallo2012]

I don't need paying, it's being wasted here, you're very welcome. I'm lunching with the person she liveries the horse with, where you teach her on August 14th, I'll give it to her. I hope you can find an alternative eventually, it's a nightmare if you need it and can't get it.
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thank you thats very kind, sprout will appreciate it!

i have emailed BD to chase up the FEI on alternatives as i cannot be the only one needing it!