Pigmentation

[racebuddy]

My horse has got some
Pink pigmentation around his
Face tiny amount been checked by vets

Suffers with allergies but is under vets for this

Anybody got experiences of this ? Any creams ect that would help ? Thanks

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Is this a new thing? Seem to remember something about it being a sign of liver problems but no idea if that is right.

 

[Cortez]

Some horses/bloodlines can have a sort of impetigo, especially around the muzzle and eyes. Not usually a problem, but a dab of sunscreen in the summer might be necessary.

 

[maya2008]

I once had a pony with similar issues which, it turned out, were caused by her eating one of the plants in the field she came from and in mine. Moved her to a different yard and the problem vanished overnight. Try moving fields?

 

[Red-1]

I believe it can be a shortage of copper, but would have thought the vet would mention that?

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I once had a pony with similar issues which, it turned out, were caused by her eating one of the plants in the field she came from and in mine.

That might have been St John's Wort, I believe that can cause depigmentation and sensitivity to sunlight.

Just googled "Is St John's wort safe for horses?"

Cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and horses have all been reported to have photosensitizing reactions to St. John's Wort. Cattle that eat 1% of their body weight of the plant show signs. Sheep are not poisoned until they have eaten 4% of their body weight.

 

[cobgoblin]

Some horses/bloodlines can have a sort of impetigo, especially around the muzzle and eyes. Not usually a problem, but a dab of sunscreen in the summer might be necessary.

Do you mean vitiligo?
Impetigo is a bacterial infection.

 

[PurBee]

That might have been St John's Wort, I believe that can cause depigmentation and sensitivity to sunlight.

Just googled "Is St John's wort safe for horses?"

Cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and horses have all been reported to have photosensitizing reactions to St. John's Wort. Cattle that eat 1% of their body weight of the plant show signs. Sheep are not poisoned until they have eaten 4% of their body weight.

Also some antibiotics aswell as ryegrass has photosensitising compounds. If the horse has liver issues, it’ll show PS symptoms more readily than a healthy liver. Although even those with a healthy liver, if eating enough of foods or meds with enough PS compounds in them, can develop pigmentation and subsequent sunburn.
Aloe vera gel also can cause PS reactions when used on skin then exposed to UV rays.

Years ago as a teen i was given PS antibiotics (the …cycline group..i forget the full name) - that summer, although im fair anyway, it was the first time my face skin blistered and burnt in a very short time out in the sun. It was shocking really. Sunscreen didnt block it unless it was layered on like skiers do, high factor 25+, layered as a white thick film to block the UV going through the cream to the skin underneath.

 

[Cortez]

Do you mean vitiligo?
Impetigo is a bacterial infection.

Yes! Vitiligo. Thank you, I knew it looked dodgy....

 

[maya2008]

That might have been St John's Wort, I believe that can cause depigmentation and sensitivity to sunlight.

Just googled "Is St John's wort safe for horses?"

Cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and horses have all been reported to have photosensitizing reactions to St. John's Wort. Cattle that eat 1% of their body weight of the plant show signs. Sheep are not poisoned until they have eaten 4% of their body weight.

That rings bells in my memory. None of the others ate it, just her….

 

[racebuddy]

Is this a new thing? Seem to remember something about it being a sign of liver problems but no idea if that is right.

yep it’s recently come up along with the allergies but he’s had full bloods ect and liver all ok x