Photosensitivity

[Nuttymanxmare]

C is currently on loan and over the past few months has developed really bad scabs on her legs.

She has always had it on her nose and every year has been covered in various creams ect which has helped.

Anyway the vet was called out a few weeks ago to do her teeth and jabs and when I asked about her legs she was diagnosed with sunburn and given antibiotics and the vet advised what to do with regards to protecting the legs.

The other day I was on the yard and noticed that C's legs were extremley scabby and sore with the obv signs of infection.

The loanee called the vet and he has now diagnosed Photosensitivity.

Im obviously very worried and I dont know her history prior to 2006 as she was rescued by me from a home where she was neglected, so there is the possibility of liver damange ect. Having said that a Liver test was done about six months ago and nothing unormal was found.

Is there anything that can be done to prevent this happening again and also are there any sites where I can get more information on this?.

 

[hellybelly6]

I think there is a company who makes tunout boots for photosensitive legs, I think it may be fal or aerborn - not sure.

She could have liver damage, or she could have eaten something like St John's Wort which can also cause photosensitivity. I would check her field.

I use Tescos factor 50 sensitive sun block for J's nose. THere are also some fly masks which have a nose flap to protect from the sun.

 

[dozzie]

It could easily be the liver. Mine has a liver problem (old age/infection/possible tumour) and has had really bad Photosensitisation. I know my horse has not had access to ragwort/St Johns wort etc so dont necessarily jump to conclusions about poisoning.

I would get blood tests done to rule out infection. Mine lost weight badly too. He has had a couple of courses of antibiotics and B12 pastes and is doing much better. The PS has virtually cleared up but has taken a long time.

 

[Nuttymanxmare]

Thanks guys.

Liver damange is what im worried about especially as I dont have her full history. She has had depression in the past although has not dramtically lost weight.

We did have a bout of buttercups a few months ago and I know LD can take a while to show signs

 

[Annie&Amy]

My friends mare had it really really bad in may due to eating buttercups, burnt+++ on legs. She had to be box rested for a week on bute and antibiotics and special spray on legs (aluspray), then she was out with equilibrium sun protect chaps (fantastic things!!!) she's been fine ever since but has to wear chaps 24/7 till end of september xxxxx

 

[Nuttymanxmare]

Thanks for that. It does sound like there is hope.

The next step is to get another LT done and get the Turnout Chaps. She has to have Turnout Chaps in Winter too as she suffers from really bad Mud Fever.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

NuttyMM - I'd take this very seriously until you prove otherwise. Photosensitivity and sunburn are similar, but at different ends of the spectrum. If your girl has photosensitivity rather than pink-nose sunburn then it should be more carefully investigated so that you can help her if she needs it. I'd get the bloods repeated, specifically checking for liver enzymes that would indicate irreversible liver damage, the trademark of ragwort poisoning. Neglected horses usually = neglected pasture which = ragwort infested and neglected horses then eat the ragwort out of desperation. The alkaloids in ragwort break down and permanently destroy the liver tissue. Commonly the only sign of liver damage up to as much as 70% destruction is photosensitivity. If it is ragwort poisoning, then you might begin to see some other early signs such as depression, horse losing weight, lethargy. More serious symptoms include the blood not clotting well, jaundice, the horse standing in corners with its head pressed against the wall, self harm, blindness, staggering. If she does have some degree of ragwort poisoning you can help your girl immediately. Photosensitivity is far worse than sunburn. With sunburn, the UV rays from the sun damage everything they touch, including the horses pink nose, legs, etc. With photosensitivity, the sunlight is ATTRACTED to the horse in the same way that a green leaf attracts sunlight. The only safe way to protect a ragwort poisoned horse during the summer months is by keeping her in during the day and out at night. Even on overcast days, there is often enough ambient UV light to burn the horse, though Factor 50 or 60 or total sunblock for babies can help. Beware of nose nets as they usually only cover a small portion of the nose. I've tried everything with my mare and the only thing that can be relied on is keeping her out of the sun. You can best help a liver damaged horse by feeding a LOW protein diet, and what protein she does have must be of the highest quality. This puts less strain on the remaining working part of the liver. Also, milk thistle will support her liver. She may also benefit from B12 as this improves hind gut digestion which is often compromised in liver damaged horses. Yea Sac is good as it also works as an appetite stimulant. Remember too - as DM says - not all liver damage is due to ragwort poisoning. It could be a virus or something else more or less sinister. But given your girl's history of neglect, depression, some weight loss, photosensitivity, I'd be VERY suspicious. Ragwort poisoning is cumulative and some horses develop a taste for it so I'd defo say get the blood test repeated and until the results come back, treat her as if she had liver problems. When the results are back, discuss with your vets what they mean and take it from there. PM me if you need any more info and if its not good news, I can PM you Prof Knottenbelt's e-mail address. He is at Liverpool University and is a world expert on ragwort poisoning in horses and is always happy to help anyone. Please let us know how your girl gets on x

 

[Nuttymanxmare]

Thanks BOF, LF is obviously what im very worried about

The vet is coming back next week so Im going to ask to get a test done again.

She's on a high strength Steroid cream at the moment and im ordering the Summer Turout Chaps from Equilibrium and will ask that she's kept in during the day till the weather turns.

She's always had sunburn on the nose which I have just treated normaly with Sudocreme and Sunblock and last summer we didnt get anything on the legs at all. I just hope the LT comes back clear.

 

[huskimo12]

the boots they are talking about above are probably the equilibrium ones though they arent hugely good fit or werent for my mare though they do the job well enough they twisted when i did them loose as they are meant to be and as they dont give you cant do them up tight. there was a post a few months back regarding this may be worth a search. One of the posts was really interesting.
Good luck x

 

[Lorian]

Hey, I thought I would just let you know my experience of photosensitivity.
A few years ago my horse was diagnosed with photosensitivity. He had really bad scabs all up his legs and on his nose. I bought some turnout boots and a fly mask that covers their nose made by Cashel Crusder and they are BRILLIANT. This stopped the sun and elimiated the uv rays that harms the skin and it help his legs loads and it cleared up. He had to have anti-biotics and anti-inflam aswell tho as he got lymphagitis because his scabs got infected. At the time I also got his liver function tested and his came back clear!

Since that year (*touchwood*) the scabs havent come back! Id definately recommend anyone getting the Cashel Crusader stuff, I also use Gold Label sunguard on his nose if hes not wearing his mask as i find the human stuff makes his sunburn worse!

 

[CrazyMare]

My friends mare has photosensitivity. We manage her by never turning her out during the day in summer. She goes out overnight and comes in in the morning. We would rather do it this way than risk her taking off any rugs/masks etc.

 

[Nuttymanxmare]

Thankyou for all the advice guys..

The vet is coming tomorrow so I am going to be up there and will ask him to do a Liver Test for me. Obv if she does have it at least I can work at fighting it.

I think it is also a case of keeping her in during the day and out at night for the rest of the summer.

 

[Nuttymanxmare]

Well the vet has been and doesnt think C has photosensitivity (long story but the crux of it is the loanee txt me to tell me it was after the vets last visit but apparently the vet had only said it was a possibility

)

Anyway he's really pleased with the legs as they have started healing up quite nicely and he explained that if it was photosensitivity he would of expected to see it on all over her white bits and legs not just the fronts of the legs and nose.

So he's not entirely sure what it is but he has taken bloods and will do a LT for me just to be on the safe side and I should have the results either tomorrow or Monday.

Ive also asked that C is kept in during the day to keep the sun off and to allow her legs to heal.

Ufortunatly the problem now is to stop her legs swelling whiles she's in during the day

Horses who'd have em

Thanks again for all the advice