Update on persistent skin infection

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soloequestrian

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Horse had biopsies taken last week and the results have come back as vasculitis. I don't know if there is more than one form of vasculitis, will have to do some research but any input welcome!
The treatment plan is oral steroids (prednisilone) for about six months. I didn't ask how much they cost, I didn't dare.
 
This is practically my core competency now!

I have a horse who developed this when he moved to the UK. He's very much given to sensitivities - he had an anaphylactic reaction to a tet vac once! - and it was an utter nightmare getting him diagnosed and sorted. He actually had a positive skin test to Hibiscrub and Sudocreme, the initially suggested regime, but we don't know if that predated or resulted from the treatment.

Antibiotics and steroids (sorry) resulted in a system crash and respiratory infection. Box rest resulted in insanity.

Sorry, I'm not being very helpful, am I!

In the end old style nursing cracked it. I gently washed the legs in iodine wash about every third day. Every day he had Furacin (VERY old school) applied, and bandaged (I used dog toilet training pads as under pads to keep the Furacin from making a mess) even when he went out. I hate bandages on turned out horses but needs must. When the ulcers calmed down and the hair started to grow back we switched to turn out chaps.

I also started him on GH Immuneplus. He had been on an immune supplement before but had come off it when he moved. He also has issues with cereal - yes, he is REALLY special needs, hence his owners 'gifting' him to me. . .ha ha - so eats a low sugar, cereal free diet with high oils and a simple vitamin supplement. He's recently been turned away for an unrelated reason and a break from all bucket feed seemed to help his skin a lot.

I won't lie, he's still prone, but I've developed a system now. If I need to wash a patch I use a mouth rinse designed for post surgical use - mild but also anti fungal/bacterial - and a mix of coconut oil and honey. It's weird but it seems to work and he's not allergic to any of it! He's not getting the immune supplement any more but I'd likely start him on it if he moved or had other stress.
 
My mare was dianosed 14th August, since then I have had non stop heartbreak switching from IM antibiotics, oral antibiotics, steroid cream, steroids, now 30 x 25mg steroids per day which is costing around £200 per week with antibiots too :(
Crap condition, my mare has had to be box rested too which doesn't help...
 
Thanks for these. I've been in touch with a very eminient vet, and he said that he doubted that oral steroids would have much effect, to possibly use topical and just keep the area dry. Hopefully see where that leads for a bit!
 
Haven't any experience with the skin condition but be careful with oral steroids as they have wide ranging side-effects including supression of the immune system (at least in humans) and steroids can also trigger laminitis so would be looking to try topical to start with as oral steroids for that length of time need to be carefully considered
 
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