soloequestrian
Well-Known Member
I've posted about this before and had loads of very helpful information (my vets are completely useless about it), so now looking for some more ideas.
My boy had this for about 2 years before I finally got a diagnosis. Since having that diagnosis he has been treated by using boots to block UV and honey on the affected bits of skin. I went through a long period (about another year) where I was using various creams and soaps to clean and sooth and every so often his white bits of skin would flare up. The flare-ups were at random times and it took me a long time to cotton on to the fact that he seems to be sensitive to anything oil-based, including soap. I now use only water or mouthwash, and the honey. This has been going on for another year. He has no infection in the affected areas now, and they are really small but they are refusing to heal up fully. He has one white sock, and the areas are actually better on that leg than on his coloured leg. The coloured one has one area that is slightly chapped all the time and recently I've noticed some slight scabbing on his fetlock joint (for a long time now the only affected areas have been around his coronets). I tried a few days without honey to see what would happen and the white leg hasn't changed while the coloured leg has got slightly worse. When I was using soap etc., it was only the white leg that ever reacted. I know this sounds daft, but I'm starting to wonder if there is something slightly different about the condition on the coloured leg compared to the white leg. It's always seemed a bit odd that the coloured leg was affected at all - most LV cases are on pink skin and he has not white on that leg at all.
At the moment, I'm controlling the condition well in that the skin isn't perfect but it also isn't sore or infected - the bits that are affected look like they are grazed slightly. I'm wondering if anyone has any other ideas for treatment. I was offered steroids by the vet but they would have to be mixed with an oil-based cream for topical application, which wouldn't be a good idea, and the horse has mild cushings (treated) so I don't want to risk systemic steroids.
Any suggestions gratefully received!
My boy had this for about 2 years before I finally got a diagnosis. Since having that diagnosis he has been treated by using boots to block UV and honey on the affected bits of skin. I went through a long period (about another year) where I was using various creams and soaps to clean and sooth and every so often his white bits of skin would flare up. The flare-ups were at random times and it took me a long time to cotton on to the fact that he seems to be sensitive to anything oil-based, including soap. I now use only water or mouthwash, and the honey. This has been going on for another year. He has no infection in the affected areas now, and they are really small but they are refusing to heal up fully. He has one white sock, and the areas are actually better on that leg than on his coloured leg. The coloured one has one area that is slightly chapped all the time and recently I've noticed some slight scabbing on his fetlock joint (for a long time now the only affected areas have been around his coronets). I tried a few days without honey to see what would happen and the white leg hasn't changed while the coloured leg has got slightly worse. When I was using soap etc., it was only the white leg that ever reacted. I know this sounds daft, but I'm starting to wonder if there is something slightly different about the condition on the coloured leg compared to the white leg. It's always seemed a bit odd that the coloured leg was affected at all - most LV cases are on pink skin and he has not white on that leg at all.
At the moment, I'm controlling the condition well in that the skin isn't perfect but it also isn't sore or infected - the bits that are affected look like they are grazed slightly. I'm wondering if anyone has any other ideas for treatment. I was offered steroids by the vet but they would have to be mixed with an oil-based cream for topical application, which wouldn't be a good idea, and the horse has mild cushings (treated) so I don't want to risk systemic steroids.
Any suggestions gratefully received!