Risk of steroid injections?

[saddlesore]

Hoping to get some experiences/opinions to help me make up my mind. My horse has really sensitive skin, I keep him rugged year round to reduce reactions to things he might touch. This usually works well however two weeks ago he came out in hives. Vet wanted to give steroids and I said no as he’s a h/W cob and I felt it was a risk. Treated with maloseb and danillon and restricted turnout to let him have time without a rug on and it was working well….. until yesterday. They have started to flare up again and I’m wondering if I’ll have to risk a steroid jag. Any advice?

 

[poiuytrewq]

Hoping to get some experiences/opinions to help me make up my mind. My horse has really sensitive skin, I keep him rugged year round to reduce reactions to things he might touch. This usually works well however two weeks ago he came out in hives. Vet wanted to give steroids and I said no as he’s a h/W cob and I felt it was a risk. Treated with maloseb and danillon and restricted turnout to let him have time without a rug on and it was working well….. until yesterday. They have started to flare up again and I’m wondering if I’ll have to risk a steroid jag. Any advice?

Really interested in replies. I’m pretty much in the same situ

 

[brighteyes]

My vet offered steroids for an epic hives breakout - I declined and they went down in 24 hours. Horse was completely unconcerned but his muzzle swelled like he'd had botox and he was head to foot in bumps. He is a TB and that's his skin - not a hairy coat.



From the front he looked like a duck. I nearly died.
Vet suggested 10 cetirizine hydrochloride OTC hayfever remedy but I didn't have any.
He was visibly improved in an hour and not at all distressed or I'd have had the vet come out ASAP

 

[Illusion100]

Can I just ask why you feel steroids would be a risk?

 

[spacefaer]

We had a 16.3 maxi cob draught type who had an allergic reaction to sugar in his feed. He had the injection and was perfectly fine. Lumps took 36 hours to subside completely

 

[saddlesore]

Can I just ask why you feel steroids would be a risk?

I know of two horses that have died due to steroid induced laminitis. I’m only considering it now as I’m two weeks in and after the hives nearly having totally cleared they are appearing again ?

 

[saddlesore]

We had a 16.3 maxi cob draught type who had an allergic reaction to sugar in his feed. He had the injection and was perfectly fine. Lumps took 36 hours to subside completely

Were you advised of possible side effects due to being a cob? Apparently it will only trigger laminitis if they have EMS/cushings and my boy shows no sign of either but I’m a total worrier.

 

[saddlesore]

My vet offered steroids for an epic hives breakout - I declined and they went down in 24 hours. Horse was completely unconcerned but his muzzle swelled like he'd had botox and he was head to foot in bumps. He is a TB and that's his skin - not a hairy coat.
View attachment 74779
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From the front he looked like a duck. I nearly died.
Vet suggested 10 cetirizine hydrochloride OTC hayfever remedy but I didn't have any.
He was visibly improved in an hour and not at all distressed or I'd have had the vet come out ASAP

thanks for sharing those pictures- I’d have got the fright of my life! I’ve tried antihistamines but no improvements. Can I ask why you declined the steroid injection?

 

[rextherobber]

Were you advised of possible side effects due to being a cob? Apparently it will only trigger laminitis if they have EMS/cushings and my boy shows no sign of either but I’m a total worrier.

I know someone who had a TB pts after steroid induced Laminitis, suppose could have had undiagnosed EMS/Cushings but was only 10 and had absolutely no symptoms.

 

[spacefaer]

Were you advised of possible side effects due to being a cob? Apparently it will only trigger laminitis if they have EMS/cushings and my boy shows no sign of either but I’m a total worrier.

Nope. We've used steroids on several occasions for arthritis and have never had a problem. They're all Irish draughts with no known risks. I never think twice about using steroids tbh

 

[Lurfy]

I have a tb who got laminitis due to cortisone injections for hives. he looked like the picture above, literally looked like bubble wrap. He wasn't overweight and no laminitis history, he was fit and around 10 (I think, it was years ago). I regret using the jabs so much.

Anyway he survived and came good. I discovered the best rugs for him to prevent future hive outbreaks. He is 21 now and in summer he lives 24/7 in the Wild Horse insect control mesh combos.

I would steer clear of cortisone injections based on my experience.

 

[saddlesore]

I have a tb who got laminitis due to cortisone injections for hives. he looked like the picture above, literally looked like bubble wrap. He wasn't overweight and no laminitis history, he was fit and around 10 (I think, it was years ago). I regret using the jabs so much.

Anyway he survived and came good. I discovered the best rugs for him to prevent future hive outbreaks. He is 21 now and in summer he lives 24/7 in the Wild Horse insect control mesh combos.

I would steer clear of cortisone injections based on my experience.

I’m glad your horse came good, you have confirmed my thoughts. My boy is 10 and a good weight and pretty fit but he’s a h/w cob and he just seems high risk to me. Thanks for sharing. My boy is always rugged too, he just has very sensitive skin ?

 

[SEL]

I’m glad your horse came good, you have confirmed my thoughts. My boy is 10 and a good weight and pretty fit but he’s a h/w cob and he just seems high risk to me. Thanks for sharing. My boy is always rugged too, he just has very sensitive skin ?

I have a part bred draft who had 2 x emergency steroid injections a few years ago after a reaction to anitbiotics. It was June, she's built like a tank and was overweight. I kept her off grass for a few days and she was fine but there was a small event line in all four feet - that could have been from the reaction or the steroids. We didn't have much choice at the time because she'd stopped eating and drinking.

She has had steroid joint injections and I always get her insulin levels tested first with annual cushings tests. Cushings is negative but we've spotted a rise in her insulin levels when the spring grass comes through even though she is restricted - so all steroid injections for her joints are done from about July onwards and I am very, very careful around grass for a few days before and after them.

If you think these allergies might involve steroids at some point then its worth getting the insulin blood tests (& pos cushings) run just to see how his baseline is. Low insulin levels = low risk, but if they are high then you know to stay well clear.

Piriton also good for allergies!

 

[saddlesore]

Thanks SEL, I had wondered about the insulin test and think I’ll need to have it done for my own peace of mind if I end up heading that way. However I believe it’s pretty costly ?

 

[brighteyes]

thanks for sharing those pictures- I’d have got the fright of my life! I’ve tried antihistamines but no improvements. Can I ask why you declined the steroid injection?

This exact reason

I know someone who had a TB pts after steroid induced Laminitis, suppose could have had undiagnosed EMS/Cushings but was only 10 and had absolutely no symptoms.

My vet said don't worry about the jab but I said I'll monitor him and if it gets worse, I'll be directly on the phone. I also had the fright of my life. From the front, he looked like a duck-billed platypus.

 

[Frumpoon]

Keep in for a few days off grass and soak hay

Steroid induced laminitis is something I never want to see ever again and doesn’t just happen to metabolically compromised horses

 

[saddlesore]

Keep in for a few days off grass and soak hay

Steroid induced laminitis is something I never want to see ever again and doesn’t just happen to metabolically compromised horses

Really? I’ve been told that if I get an insulin resistance test done and he doesn’t spike then it *should* be safe? I’m at my wits end as they were improving and now flaring up again. Only plus is they appear to be neither itchy nor sore but I want to help him ?

 

[Frumpoon]

Have the jab but keep him off the grass definitely, just a few days maybe a week