Unusual Leg infection + pictures + essay

ClumsyPonyPF

ClumsyPonyPF

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Okay, so this post isn't for advice as we are just about done with it now, but its a post for similar experiences and to show people what can happen!
I wrote a post about it at the beginning (back in December) but we had no idea what was yet to come...

So started with a sore on the leg, we thought this was from him wearing turn out boots where they had got wet and rubbed. Took boots off straight away, cleaned it and put some sudocrem on.

Next day we went up, and he had chewed massive bare patches all over his legs, they were red raw and very sore and itchy for him. Called the vet and they said to do the same as we had done, and if it was no better ring again.
Next day we rang again (Christmas Eve) and they came out completely shocked at the sight. They had a good look, gave us a wash to clean them, and steroid cream to treat them, along with a course of bute, and Norodine and a Penicillin shot. Also told to be on box rest and wasn't allowed out until all cleared up!

Legs weren't getting any better 2 weeks later had vets again, as he wasn't himself either, he had bloods, and legs looked at again and new course of treatment.

Another few weeks later (now into months of the infection, he had a biopsy done) 3 holes taken from his legs, wouldn't stop bleeding heavy sedated pony, and box rest again with legs wrapped up. And another penicillin shot

Turns out he just had an infection that could have been from anything! Now still have slightly scabby legs but getting better, and have a course of shampoo for a year! Can't believe how bad a simple infection could get!

Sorry for the essay but I find it a interesting case and something so unusual!

Hope this pic works...
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Thanks for posting. My hardy cob cross has had things this winter that he's never had before, and struggled to get them cleared up quickly but all sorted now. Vets have said to me they've never known a winter like it for persistent infections and strange skin things they've not seen before. Glad yours is now on the mend.
 
Ah thats interesting, ours didnt say anything like that, they just couldnt get to grips with it. The amount of people who said it was mud fever or mites was mad! We think that the fact he was wearing boots (although to protect him) made it worse as they couldnt breathe, but you cant win as he was coming in with cuts before! Hard to know whats best!
 
I've had similar this last month. Horse came in presenting with a tendon injury, hot, puffy & lame. Bandage on box rest etc, scan showed nothing! Though phew a bad knock!

Few days later one morning her leg had completely swollen, couldn't see her knee or fetlock joints! 4 vets later! Turns out a rather rare abscess site- middle of her leg! Que more bandaging, poultice etc! we're now on the home straight with a hole in her leg!
Will show pictures if anyone wants to see them
 
ilvpippa said:
I've had similar this last month. Horse came in presenting with a tendon injury, hot, puffy & lame. Bandage on box rest etc, scan showed nothing! Though phew a bad knock!

Few days later one morning her leg had completely swollen, couldn't see her knee or fetlock joints! 4 vets later! Turns out a rather rare abscess site- middle of her leg! Que more bandaging, poultice etc! we're now on the home straight with a hole in her leg!
Will show pictures if anyone wants to see them
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Would be interesting to see photo's. Lucky it wasnt a tendon injury though. A few weeks before we had this he kicked himself in the field. Since then he grazed his chest, and cut his front leg higher up! He was never quite this clumsy before!
 
How old is he?

I ask because of my recent experience. The pic shows what my lad did to his leg (s - both hinds) by chewing and rubbing within 48 hours. They went from a few dandruffy, itchy patches where the hair was coming out, to this.

Turns out he is in early stages of Cushings and a compromised immune system meant he had stopped being able to cope with the small number of mites every horse has.

Used mite treatment, steroid injection, Malaseb shampoo and steroid cream and Prascend. 5/6 weeks later, you can hardly tell. Never seen anything like it in 4 decades of keeping 'em! :o

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I would think that with the original horse his scabby/itchy legs were caused by having wet, cold, dirty boots on in the field that have rubbed and irrated the horse. Maybe led to an infection but the boots caused the problem and for that reason never leave a horse in winter with boots on his legs....do far more harm than good.
 
He had some bloods done, when he wasn't feeling so well with it, would hope they would have shown up any signs of cushings? Got me worried now!

And I find that statement a bit abrupt to be honest, as we always kept the boots clean and they never went back on if they were muddy. I had said that I think they rubbed however we never had an issue with them before this and there isnt even a proven fact it was the boots that did it. Sorry if I am quite reactive to that, but I have always done what I felt was best for him (he is very clumsy and was coming in with cuts or things and the boots were good at preventing that). I felt extremely guilty when I thought that it was my decisions that caused him to go through this, I dont need to read a statement like that.
Oh and our vet said after he had to go out with something on his legs for a while and agreed with our reasoning.
 
Sorry, didn't mean to offend but the fact that it was december and wet and that you left the boots on in the field means to me they would have been muddy and it looks like your horse's legs are scabby where the boots were. I have a horse just now with what looks like a skin infection caused by a sweaty numnah, some horses just seem to be prone to these things especially when the weather is cold and wet and I for one would never leave boots on in the field, in fact I wouldn't use them at all.....appreciate alot of people do though !
 
ClumsyPonyPF said:
He had some bloods done, when he wasn't feeling so well with it, would hope they would have shown up any signs of cushings? Got me worried now!
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Hello again :)

No - as far as I am aware, the bloods always have to be sent away to be tested for Cushings - but at the moment, the test is free (although the charge to collect and send the blood is not :rolleyes:) but might be worth asking for this to be done?

It may well be that this is NOT the case for your lad, but it really is worth ruling out.
 
Looks like the results from corioptic mange, has been popular end of, beg of this year, and drugs given by vet would be used to treat it as well, but in addition a dectomax injection or front line.
 
OP this looks more like cellulitis and the progression of the infection from what you have described sounds like it too. It's extremely painful and can last weeks and be devastating as can track into soft tissue, tendon and bone if untreated. Very simple to treat, antib's and bute for 7-10 days, then bute until no heat, swelling or scabs :)
 
Horsesforever1 said:
looks like wet rot to me. wet legs , boots rubbed. hair has come away, rotting with the wet. have you tried sudocreme?
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We tried sudocreme in the first 2 days of noticing it when they were only small, and it then grew again, which vet found really strange as he even thought that would help. The steroid cream really helped at first then came to a stop. The washes have also helped!
 
Zargon_91 said:
OP this looks more like cellulitis and the progression of the infection from what you have described sounds like it too. It's extremely painful and can last weeks and be devastating as can track into soft tissue, tendon and bone if untreated. Very simple to treat, antib's and bute for 7-10 days, then bute until no heat, swelling or scabs :)
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I was worried about that, but according to vet it was just an infection! He was on a course of bute and antibiotics at one point which really helped the swelling and things such as heat and irritation.

It ha got loads better now, he is back in work and sound, and they are pretty much back to normal other than a few bald patches and lots more hair than he used to have (in regards to where there wasnt the bald patches).

The wash we use says we should use it for a long time as its long term treatment, my only worry now is that keeping washing them may start to cause issues because they are constantly getting wet, although we now only do it every other day instead of every day and we can start making this less and less until only once a week, but just a bit concerned about how much we are having to wash. And this is not us choosing to do it, but it is what they tell us to do and its the instructions given on the treatment.
 
ClumsyPonyPF said:
The wash we use says we should use it for a long time as its long term treatment, my only worry now is that keeping washing them may start to cause issues because they are constantly getting wet, although we now only do it every other day instead of every day and we can start making this less and less until only once a week, but just a bit concerned about how much we are having to wash. And this is not us choosing to do it, but it is what they tell us to do and its the instructions given on the treatment.
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Hairdryer? I'd have thought that as long as the legs are thoroughly dried after, you shouldn't have a problem. Worth a go maybe.
 
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