Vasculitis and Folliculitis ...... help needed please!!!??? (also in vets)

[Bay_Beasty]

Hi
I have just had a FB msg from my cousin who has had her horse diagnosed by the vets to have vasculitis (immune related) and a secondary infection most likely to be folliculitis? She has asked for my help. I am stumped, have looked at google, but know that the knowledge on this forum far outstrips wikipedia so thought I would ask for some help and what can she do.

The horse has lesions over his rump near the tail that are v red, open and v sore and weep. they look like someone has used acid to burn his skin in a perfect circle. he had this a year ago exactly the same and vet never got to the bottom of it, so actually came to the conclusion that they were acid burns. But we were wrong. What should she do to help treat the lesions and treat the lack of immunity. I dont know his diet but I can find our for you. none of the other horses she has have it.

Many many thanks



B_B

 

[Crazy Friesian]

Oooo heck. Thats not good. I know NOTHING about the condition but have recently been told about Spirulina. (Blue green algae). Tastes vile, smells as good - not. But apparently it balances the immune system without sending it into hyperdrive (which is NOT what you need). It is app also v good for allergies and has been successfully used for sweetitch, arthritis etc

Its a long shot. You can get it from Cotswold herbs in 1kg quantities. Someone on here (sorry forget the name) recommended 20g twice daily until symptoms subside then 20g per day maintenance.

 

[Bay_Beasty]

sorry is this to paste onto the lesions or to feed him?

 

[Crazy Friesian]

Feed. Might need to disguise with something like fennel seeds or peppermint herb tho.

 

[kal40]

My sisters little mare has it on her back legs. At first glance it looks like she has caught herself brushing. She had it when we first got her nearly two years ago. The stable she was in was minging and we thought she had mites or mud fever.

After tests from the vets it turned out that it was vasculitis but the problem is that she has had it so long the tissue is very scarred. The only way to get rid of it is to laser it. In conjunction with the vet, we decided to leave it alone. Once or twice a year it gets infected and we treat it with antibiotics but other than that we leave it alone.

Each area is about an inch long and about quarter of an inch wide. It doesn't bother her at all and obviously we keep a close eye on it.

Sorry this is not much help to you.

 

[JLD]

Hi, my boy had same thing 2 years ago. started with a secondary skin infection from a fly bite - rapidly spreading oozy lesions on neck - a bit like human impetigo. he then developed autoimmune vasculitis with massive swelling of legs sheath nose etc - all the bits gravity affects. he responded well to injected steroids and antibiotics. needed elevated manger, water etc as couldnt eat with his head down. took about 6 weeks to recover and now prone to leg swelling but otherwise is fine. Good luck is scary but mine turned out fine. I also put him on a general supplement and propel plus as he got a bit anaemic.

 

[Booboos]

F had vasculitis on his legs last year. It looked exactly like mud fever but would not respond despite my best mud fever treatment. However as soon as we realised what it was he responded very well to antibiotics for the infection and topical steroids for the inflammation.

Your friend needs to talk to her vet, this is not an over the counter remedy situation. More than likely the horse will need antibiotics for the infection and steroids for the inflammation. The vet is likely to prescribe topical steroids as they have fewer side effects, but if they don't work he may need oral steroids or injections (look out for laminitis as one of the side effects here).

Long term your friend may want to try some of the immune boost supplements available. I use one by Equifeast, but it's difficult to tell whether it makes a difference or not - luckily F only had the one attack.

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

The horse has lesions over his rump near the tail that are v red, open and v sore and weep. they look like someone has used acid to burn his skin in a perfect circle. he had this a year ago exactly the same and vet never got to the bottom of it, so actually came to the conclusion that they were acid burns. But we were wrong. What should she do to help treat the lesions and treat the lack of immunity. I dont know his diet but I can find our for you. none of the other horses she has have it.

Had this in May with Dex,at first i thought it was nettle rash, then i thought ringworm so i called my vet,he didnt like the look of it and blood tested which found liver problems/acute hepatitis Dex then developed vasculitis/lymphangitis and swelled so badly that his skin split on his legs,his belly was hanging down, his sheaf was so large he struggled to pee and his head was huge, his heart started to fail with all the stress but my fantastic vet managed to get it under control with diuretics,steroids/milk thistle/liver supplements etc intotal 132 tablets a day

some pics:

this is how it started

legs- if you look very carefully you can see the ECG heart monitor sticker on his tummy!

still his cheeky self- the bare circles are white with sunblock as the bare skin was burning in the sun-Boots soltan factor 50 seemed best and didnt irritate.

He is much better now, he had a random virus which is weird as he hadnt been out to a pony party for months and the 4 he lives with are fine My vet had come across similar conditions as this before and said that liver issues often manifest in skin & circulation trouble.

 

[Booboos]

Poor Dex! Looks like he really suffered with all this! Glad he pulled through!

F has had repeated blood tests (including liver function) and we can't find any reason for his immune issues (he also has a tendency to get infections over nothing), but he also seems to be outgrowing all the problems.

 

[JLD]

WOW dex looked exactly like my boy did ! bald bits and massive legs tummy sheath and face. Sorry he had it too but it's nice to see another case as it seems pretty rare to have it like that. hope he is ok now, I am paranoid about fly bites as a result as that started mine off.

 

[Bay_Beasty]

Thank you all for help. Very interesting and poor Dex he looks so sore, but glad he pulled through. Have asked cousin for more details. I remember when it hapenned last year the lesions were massive covering about an A4 piece of paper and some bigger. V sore. Will let her know of your thoughts and ask what the vet is doing.

 

[Bay_Beasty]

Just got this info from my cousin, she sent me a photo but just not too sure how to get off from FB ms to computer and then to here and cant post link as it is to my inbox. but here is the info if this helps.

THis was taken the day after he did it and has had loads of cream applied - initially it looks like he has been skinned - very clean and not itchy although v painful. Done this three times now - all in same position tho once on other side.
He is 16 and permantely out at grass (no weeds to speak of - the vet walked round the field to check for any nasties) No other horses have it. Flies quite bad but he is covered in fly repellent (spot checked him for allergy to this) - tried fly/sweetitch rugs but these seemed to make him worse. Vet thinks it is vasculitis - looking online this seems to be brought on by bad infections like African Horse Sickness, Strangles etc but HE HAS NOT HAD THESE!! He is very well in himself and always looks lovely and shiny until these horrible things appear. Last year he was on antiobiotics and special baths when the second lot came up. Times of year have been May/July/Oct and weather has varied between wet last year and hot and dry now. Vasculitus has apparently caused the folliculitis which is the sores. There is apparently no cure for vasculitus just treat the sores when they appear. Any help gratefully received?? Done various tests and skin biopsy - this showed up vasculitus.

again thanks for all your help.

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

The bigger patches on Dex's back looked like this until i applied thick sunblock twice a day(factor 50, Soltan from Boots, the one with built in insect repellant) Within a couple of days, it was noticeably better and we had hair growing through a couple of weeks later. I would try it as it wont do any harm and may help.. good luck it looks very sore x

 

[Bay_Beasty]

Thanks D_D_D. V helpful!