Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis, Sweetitch and Navicular Syndrone

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Annette Parsons

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Please help if you have ever known a horse with leukocytoclastic vasculitis and/or navicular syndrone. I purchased my shire cross tb when he was just 2mths old so never considered a vetting. He was weaned at 5mths and lived out until 3years old with a full hay rack and daily feeds with supplements. His feet were regularly trimmed during this period. Last May he developed sweetitch almost overnight with no prior warning that he may become a sweetitch sufferer. Boett rugs were purchased and he still lived out but in July he developed a huge swollen right hind leg and had to come in as he couldn't walk. He was treated with antibiotics and bute and X-rays found no injury to tendon or suspensory ligaments and was soon sound on it again.
He was backed and broken last September but by mid October he became lame on his left fore. At first I assumed it was because his right hind leg was still slightly swollen and didn't worry but since then he's had MRI scan which showed problems with his navicular bursar and a steroid injection into his foot and tildren infusion since then have not improved his lameness.
His swollen right hind was further investigated after it filled up again early this year and became very ulcerated-a biopsy revealed he has a rare condition called Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis and he's allergic to numerous things including daylight, clover, buttercups, clippers or just about anything but it only affects his white hind legs.
The veterinary hospital has now advised there is nothing further they can do for his lameness and suggested I call it a day and give up but he's only 4, he appears to be happy with his life as it is (he goes out nights and comes in during the day) and I feel as though it's too soon to write him off. He's 17hh and very gentle and I've just put him on one bute a day to see if he comes sound.
I so want to help him but have no idea where to turn for help and advise - all the odds appear to be against him. I accept that he'll never recover from navicular but hope he may grow out of his skin/allergy problems. Bute is only hiding the problem and I do not want to make him suffer but how do I accept I've done everything possible before giving him up. My previous 2 horses were put down due to lameness and I've still not come to terms with a 3rd being diagnosed with the same fate.
Any suggestions will be seriously considered. Thanks
 
Oh yes, sorry.....he's lived off steroid tablets for weeks-30 every 3 days and he's only just weaned off them with the next stack purchased ready for the next time. Really I would have expected them to have helped the navicular problem too.
 
How sure are you that he has Navicular syndrome? I just ask because he's very young and really his bones should still be forming rather than degenerating and its not responded to the treatment at all..

He sounds like a lovely chap and he's been through it a bit hasn't he. If you can I'd just rest him for 6 months or so and see what happens with the lameness. Lots of people advise corrective shoeing for Navicular and lots say to take the shoes off...
 
you seem to be doing right thing for sweet-itch with the rugs but they need to be in during night as that is when midges really bite, so you seem to be on a double whammy at the moment. Is it just on his white bits that he has problems from sunlight the buttercups and eating the clover, does he have any skin reactions to them????
 
ok might be of tangent but here is a random suggestion, all three problems are associated with an immune response well the vasculitis and sweetitch and also the navicular syndrone can be similar to arthritic changes. may be talk to your vet for a complete immune work up, there are numerous factors to look at
its just a thought
 
Many thanks to all who took time out to offer help. Yes only the white parts of his legs are affected by the leukocytoclastic vasculitus but I cannot try to boost his immune system as that is precisely what causes this particular problem-his own immune system is over-reacting and creating the problem. He's had huge quantities of steroid tablets,prednisolone, and next time eruptions occur I'll get him on them straight away as I know nothing else helps-external steroid sprays ,antibiotics, etc. Doing my best to avoid further outbreak by keeping him out of the sun / daylight.
His sweetitch is under control as he stays in until after dark and is only out nights. He has 3 boett rugs-one on, one ready to change and the 3rd in the wash / being repaired-yes I sew the holes and rips regularly to ensure he's always covered. I've also hogged him as the rugs had ruined his gorgeous mane-he still has his forelock though.
Navicular syndrone was diagnosed after an MRI scan, March, and nerve blocks. Corrective shoeing, cortisone injection, tindral infusion all tried since November last year but still just as lame-only comes sound when navicular bursar is blocked.
He's very laid back about everything-even with weeping open sores all over his legs he remained sweet and easy to treat. He's huge as his mum was a full shire so not any use as a pet / companion especially with his skin problems. I'm sure he will grow out of his skin problems though just like most teenage boys and I feel that at 4 there will be all sorts of changes in his feet.
However I worry that he was maybe born with the navicular problem as he's spent more time lying down over the past 4 years that any other horse / youngster I've ever known and now I've put him on one bute a day he seems to be spending more time on his feet and running around the field much more-possibly to escape the biting insects / midges. Anyway I've decided to reassess the situation in a couple of months and see if the bute brings him sound-if it does I can then try substitutes which would be less harmfull in the long term.
 
Your poor lad sounds like he is really up against it! Have you considered going down the herbal route - in conjunction with your vet of course.Just thinking abut trying to get a handle on his immune system. I do know of a good "herbalist" by reputation. I have not had to use him, yet... Not a quick fix, but these things never are. :)

My other thought was around the navicular. Have you considered him going barefoot? Many navicular issues have been helped by going barefoot. But it helps to have a farrier that supports this.

Sorry I can't be much use otherwise. I wish you lots of luck. He really sounds like he deserves a chance.
 
Hi Annette,

I'm really sorry to hear about your horse, its very sad. I've joined especially to reply to you!

I have a pony with one of the most severe cases of Sweet itch most vets have seen - its been a major struggle keeping him not needing to be pts from it. This year I have made a major breakthrough - he's on linseed (100g per 100kg) and cavalesse, but the real whammy has been spirulina. he's still rugged and still a bit itchy, but no sores on his legs, hardly any on his face and no rubbing of neck, tail or bottom - and he looks fantastic and is so much calmer.

I read about it in Dr Eleanor Kellon's book - she has used it to great effect on horses with SI and COPD (my guy has that as well, being so allergic and that has pretty much gone as well) It doesn't "boost" the immune system which I agree is the last thing you want to do!! It balances it in some way.

This is what she says about it " It (spirulina) has been shown to specifically improve the production of IgG antibodies, while down-regulating allergies associated with IgA antibody responses"

Her recommended feeding amounts are 20g twice a day until symptoms decrease, then a maintenance dose of 20g a day.

This is what my horse is on now. Plus the linseed is important as the immune system relies heavily on essential fatty acids which he has to get from his diet - this is very well supplied by micronized linseed.

I get the spirulina from either Equinatural or Cotswolds Herbs - and I add fennel seeds (also available from Cotswolds herbs) to disguise the taste of the spirulina, its really quite vile!! I just add it into fast fibre.

I also feed spirulina to my dog who has a very bad flea allergy which its great for, and also good for his arthritis!

I just wanted to pass on my experience as it could be a really helpful thing for your chap. I agree with the barefoot idea as well, he really shouldn't have navicular at that age. Try going to Nic Barkers blog for good results.

http://rockleyfarm.blogspot.com/2010/07/project-dexter-results-so-far.html

Best of luck.

Nx
 
hi i dont think i can be of any help ,but can let u know your not on your own .Last month i found out my 3yr old warmblood had navicular and maybe soft tissue damage to the collateral ligament ,i was gutted as i was planning on having him graded befor he showed a little lameness ,i could have had mri ,i could have done 6months box rest or could have even put him down but i have decided to chuck him out in our 40acre sick lame and lazy paddock and plan to re xray him next year to see which way the navic is going ,and in regard to the allergies dont panic my mare had very simalar about 6 years ago allergic to grass ,trees, weeds, rugs, out of 53 allergie tests she was allergic to 51 of them ,again i was advised to put her down but she still had fight left in her so a specialist put her on 100 pred steroids per day for about 4months luckily she didnt get laminitis ,i chucked her in a field weaned her slowly off the steroids and she is fine now doesnt even react to fly bites
with the navic i am hoping it will sort itself out as the allergies i know that sound stupid but its got to be worth a try ,if you ever need to chat just pm me , as i said not much help but your not on your own
 
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