Immunotherapy / Hyposensitisation

[Natalie_H]

Has anyone had any experience of these? My TB is suffering with his allergies again this winter, & the anti-histamines are not controlling it as well as they did last year. I have read a bit about it & there has been some success as far as I can see. Just wondered if anyone has had this done on their horse or knows anyone that has. Thanks!

 

[TGM]

Do you mean when they test the horse for various allergies and then formulate injections to desensitise the horse to the allergens?

My friend's mare had a respiratory allergy that was worse in the summer months. She sent her to the REACT clinic where she was tested and found she was allergic to various pollens etc, and injections were formulated to combat these. Definitely made a big difference to my friend's mare - her resting respiratory rate was measured daily before and after the treatment and there was a big improvement.

 

[Natalie_H]

That's exactly it!! That's really helpful - thanks. I had to ring my vet & tell him about it & he said that they don't do it on horses, just small animals. So I told him that Liphook were doing it & he said he would look into it. My horse gets urticaria so I was hoping that it might help. Was it an expensive process do you know? He has already had a year of treatment for the allergy & the insurance won't pay up anymore!!

 

[TGM]

Sorry - don't know how much it cost. There used to be a clinic in the Bletchingley area (Surrey) that used to do the testing - not sure if still exists though.

 

[Natalie_H]

Thanks. I have a list of the things he is allergic to from his blood tests, so I am just trying to encourage the vet to look into the procedure. If he won't do it, I think Bell Equine might. Thanks again.

 

[JLav]

I ride a horse who has bad respiratory problems in the summer and he was referred to the clinic in Surrey. He was there for ages and it cost his owner a fortune and made absolutely no difference whatsoever!!