Scabby/lesions on horses legs

lialls

lialls

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Has anyone else come across this before?

About 6 weeks ago scabs formed on my horses legs - similar to mud fever but they are only above the fetlock extending up to her elbow on some legs, the scabs are tight to the skin and bleed a bit if they are removed. We washed the legs with Hibi scrub and put on MSM cream. The scabs formed again within a few days. Spoke to the vet who said to soak the scabs off and try Flamazine - the scabs have formed again. She's had some swelling but it's localised to just where the scabs are, not the whole leg. The vet wants to do a biopsy to find out what it is but it's £300 just for the biopsy so just wanted to see if anyone else had a similar experience? The vet said that the Flamazine should have sorted it out if it was an infection or a fungus. He did mention about inflammation of the veins which can cause lesions on the skin though.

She's not out in a wet field
She has got white legs and in the summer does suffer from sun burn on her muzzle usually

Any ideas or things to try before I have to bite the bullet? Thanks for reading
 
Frank doesn't get itchy at all but he does get random scabs on his lower legs and on the rest of the body usually caused by fly bites/heat bumps etc. But at this time of year his legs seem to flare up and treating with deosect or dectomax seems to result in a big improvment. I treat the scabs with sudocreme with added sulphur powder.
 
Do you have any buttercups in your field? Although I would have expected the scabs to start at pastern level. Some plants can cause them to become photosensitive too.

What breed is she? And do you have any photos of the lesions?
 
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It, I think, can also indicate liver problems if it's on her white legs.
Photosensitivity or something like that.

Have you have a blood work up done?
 
Slightlyconfused said:
It, I think, can also indicate liver problems if it's on her white legs.
Photosensitivity or something like that.

Have you have a blood work up done?
Click to expand...

true, and it can be a cushings sign as their immune system not great so they get like a persistant a leukocytoclastic vasculitis

A biopsy just seems quite a step up from just flamazine not working at this stage although it does sound like they are pretty extensive.
 
As others have suggested there is quite a range of possibilities and you are going to need some form of testing to resolve this. There is possibly an argument for a blood test first to look for liver damage which would lead to photo sensitivity. (Although in fairness I would also have expected the vet to spot scabbing caused by photo sensitivity and since they haven't it is probably not - if that makes sense?) But whilst you are doing that the scabs continue and you risk a cellulitis like infection which would make all this much harder to treat and be more expensive in the long run. Pricey though it is I would follow vets advice and have the biopsy.
 
Could be leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Both mine had it last year and despite extensive vets investigations we never found out what caused it in two horses at once, with no change in routine. We did the creams, the steroids...in the end vet suggested leaving alone and eventually they cleared up. Not much help I'm afraid! But sometimes despite our instinct to remove scabs and apply creams its best to leave alone. Go with the biopsy, at least youll be informed, but keep an open mind.
 
Don't touch the scabs! If it is an LV photosensitivity, fiddling with the scabs can make it exponentially worse.

Make sure you have no buttercups, no ragwort or other nasty plants and stop any feed with alfalfa.


ETA - I've just noticed that you have put that she usually gets a sunburnt muzzle. This is not acceptable, you CAN prevent this. Suncream and fly masks with UV nose covers are very effective when used together. Also I would suncream her legs next year before she gets any scabs. You might be able to use suncream this year, but patch test as you don't want to make what she has now worse, so might end up having to wait for the scabs to fully clear.
 
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My old retired pony mare had something like it. Scabs on the outside of the cannon bones, and also some on the outside of the fetlock (plus prone to sunburn on pink nose). Looked like mudfever, but wasn't. She was a grey pony with pink legs under the coat, and I put it down to photosensitivity in the end (only occurred in summer). The vet did take mite samples (negative). I managed the condition by liberally applying Filtabac, which acts both to soften the scabs and as a really effective sunscreen. The scabs came off eventually, and so long as I remembered to put on the filtabac every 2-3 days in summer, I could prevent a re-occurrence.
Fortunately, she never developed any serious additional symptoms. When I first got her and the scabs were at their worst, she leg was pretty warm to the touch, and maybe very slightly filled, but fortunately never escalated to a full infection/elephant leg.
 
This does sound very much like LV. If it is it can be a very hard condition to treat. Please don't pick them off. I would hit this hard if it was . Seriously. We have been battling LV since last may!
 
We don't have any buttercups in our fields. Did wonder if it could be a reaction to plant or something eaten but the ver said it would effect her all over, not just her legs :/
 
I do use sun cream on her muzzle and she has a full face fly mask to manage it but so far this year no effect on her muzzle and we've not had much sun, so could be really be UV related?
 
Thanks for all the replies! Much appreciated. Can't remember how to post images on here but will have another chat to the vet about doing bloods maybe 👍🏼
 
I believe your vet needs to do a biopsy to diagnose LV. I wasted 3 years & did irreparable damage to my horse because he was misdiagnosed by 3 vets.

I would strongly recommend finding a vet who knows what LV is so you can start to treat it properly.
 
You could start by protecting the white bits from UV. My boy has LV, started by use of sun cream many years ago. It's taken me years to a) get a diagnosis and b) work out that he is allergic to anything oil based (including, I think, neoprene and vet wrap). He still has scabs but at least they are minimal and don't bother him.
 
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