leukocytoclastic vasculitis

Jim bob

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So it would appear my horse has this. My vet diagnosed my horse with this a few weeks ago after one of his hind legs ballooned over night and wouldn't reduce in size eventhough I had been cold hosing, working him and had stable bandages on him. I was due to contact him to update him how my horse was today or tomorrow. However things got worse, a few nights ago, my horses leg started to swell again and my management routine wasn't working. So my vet was back down today. Steroid cream to be put on the scabs ( He has them on all of his legs, if not all then 3 out of his 4 legs) He is on antibiotics, given another dose of steroids, blood sample taken to test his liver( live results are back and his liver is fine) I have been advised to continue with the bandaging and light work, its made him sore on his left hind. Will try and get a few photos on.

Google is actually quite limited in what it can tell me about this condition, not sure if its rare or just uncommon. How does other owners manage their horses condition? Or try to prevent another episode?
 

Street_Skill

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My Arab mare was diagnosed with this in around 1998/1999. She was diagnosed by punch biopsy of the affected area and at the time I was told that is was extremely rare and she was one of only 10 reported cases in the UK. I think that it is diagnosed more often now, but I don't know how common it really is.

My mare was grey but chestnut as a foal with four long white socks the skin of which was unpigmented. She also had a pink stripe on her muzzle. The condition only affected one of her front legs but it was extremely swollen and scabby and often oozed lymph fluid due to the amount of swelling. She was never lame on it (hard as nails), but it was obviously uncomfortable for her. The treatment consisted of steroids at an immuno-suppressant dose and removing the scabs, some of which were enormous. I would mix Sudocreme with antibiotic granules to make a paste and smother it on the leg, cover in clingfilm and then bandage over the top. This would soften the scabs making them easier to remove and also made her more comfortable and prevented infection.

It took a long time to clear up, probably not helped by the lack of knowledge about the condition and therefore the trial and error method of treating it. Once we got on top of it I found that it did reoccur, but never to the same extent. She would get the odd scab on the same leg which was easier removed and covered in yet more Sudocreme! The condition is photosensitive, so I found that it only ever reoccured in summer. I found keeping her in during the day helped, and covering her nose in sun cream prevented problems on her muzzle. This was in the days before fly sheets and masks were widely used, so I suppose something like that could of helped her.

As I said, the condition didn't make her lame, although she was out of work when it was at it's worst. Once it had cleared up she carried on as before and it didn't affect her ridden work. Unfortunately I lost her from an unrelated condition. I imagine treatment and understanding has moved on a lot since my mare was diagnosed, but if I can help just ask! :)
 

Fun Times

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My horse had this over winter. It appeared as a small scab on one of his white legs (he is chestnut) which i initially treated as mud fever. It showed no improvement (more scabs appeared) and then he started with it on his white hind leg too. Vets diagnosed it when he went in for something else. I shaved the hair off the area and treated initially with a steroid spray called cortivance. I subsequently had quicker results using fuciderm cream which i found easier to apply too. He was never lame on it but he did object to the area being touched. It hasnt reappeared but if it does i would start with the fuciderm immediately to keep on top of it. It seeme to take a long time to get the scabs under control, even treating twice daily. I waited till the scabs were obviously "dead" then removed them with fingers, trying to avoid flying hooves. My understanding is that its some kind of auto-immune issue but the vet didnt give me much info as we were focusing primarily on another problem he had at the time. I turned out over winter in premier equine turnout boots too, just to give a bit of support and protection and keep the mud off the scabs.
 

Jim bob

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Thanks currently my horse is in bandages or turnout boots of some degree in he field and also if he is stood in. The scabs are very painful for him and even trying to put cream on his doesn't like and shows me it hurts. I know clipping has been mentioned but I am not sure I could get the clippers near his scabs.
 

Fun Times

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Thanks currently my horse is in bandages or turnout boots of some degree in he field and also if he is stood in. The scabs are very painful for him and even trying to put cream on his doesn't like and shows me it hurts. I know clipping has been mentioned but I am not sure I could get the clippers near his scabs.

Now that i think of it, i clipped mine whilst he was under sedation at the vets having something else done. I remember thinking at the time i may as well crack on with that whilst he was sleepy. You could get some domesedon or sedaline maybe and try to tackle him when a bit dopey. Its surprising how sore the scabs are. If you are struggling with the cream, perhaps the cortavance spray may work better for you (my horse would stand for two or three squirts before stamping). Someone else suggested coating the appropriate area of his turnout boot with the stuff then putting the boot on, but i never had to resort to that.
 

Jim bob

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Thought I would update you all. My horse was doing well. The cream that the vet has given us appeared to be working and the scabs look less agressive. I worked hin lightly last night and he did well. This afternoon I brought him into the yard to do his legs and he walked in fine. However when I rode he was very sore on one of his fores. So much so I had to get off . Nothing in his foot heat and pulses nothing screamed at me. His right fore has really blown up and he is out in the field with bandages yet walked out still very sore. I think it's getting worse :( updating the vet on Thursday.
 
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