pergula disease (sp?)

[xxmariexx]

trying to help a friend, we were ment to meet for a ride this morning but she phoned saying her horse has come up in lumps all over his body, i suggested this could be a reaction to something so she called the vet, when the vet came he said he'd not seen a reaction like this since the seventies, apparently some of the lumps are the size of footballs and his skin is starting to split and ooze puss, this 14'2 tbx now looks like a cob, he seems happy in himself and the vet gave him cortazone and antihistamines and said if he's not better in 48 hours to call again, but said it could be something called pergula which is very seriouse but because his gums arnt purple it cant be, this vet hasnt got the best reputation for diagnosing correctly but was the only one on call and was only with the horse for 10mins, the pony has just swapped fields and the cows in the field previously came up in lumps last week and the same vet saw to them but didnt put the two together,
we were wondering if anyone had any experiance with this pergula as now she's worried that it could be more seriouse but as his gums arnt purple the vet is ruleling this out, do the gums have to be purple for it to be this? or could it be something to do with the cows? any advice would be gratefull as she is quite worried!! thanks.x

 

[EPRider]

I think the vet might have said purpura haemorrhagica. It does not sound like this to me as that is usually found around the head, limbs and breast. It does sound like a severe allergic reaction to something though. Could he have disturbed a wasps nest?

 

[xxmariexx]

ah yes that sounds about right! just googles it and seems to be a lot of symptoms that he doesnt have, like depression and not wanting to eat, although she did say the worst lump was between his front legs, under his belly and all four legs were very swollen, wouldnt have thought it was a wasp nest as her other 2 horses were in the same field, one being really old so would have been a easy target, hopefully the drugs will help, thanks for that hopefully will be able to settle her mind a bit!

 

[appylass]

A friend's mare had purpura haemorrhagica a few years ago, from what I was told it began after a small cut on her lower leg, she was swollen all over, but particularly her legs. She was treated very aggressively with steroids, anti inflammatories, and antibiotics; she made a full recovery but was extremely ill for a while.

 

[JenHunt]

PurPura.... its highly contagious, and very very yucky!

can take ages to treat and recover from.
my mums horse has it when i was a kid, and he had pus running down his nose for weeks, and he had about 6 months off work in the end!