Vitiligo

J

JenHunt

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My horse has developed what my vet has said is vitiligo. it started around his muzzle as circular white dots (he's bay) and the spots got bigger and joined up, then after the next moult started to fade, but new ones appeared round his mouth and chin. This summer he developed 'spectacles' and some of the spots on his muzzle have changed again.
The vet says it's just one of those things, it will come and go and there's nothing we can do.
It doesn't seem to bother him, except when i put suncream on (but thats more about the suncream than anything else!) and i hardly notice it anymore. But i keep getting asked at shows if its ringworm. it blatantly isnt as its white hair not bald scabby bits!
Has anyone else come across this before? or do any vets out there have any more info on it?
i'll try to get a photo up for you to see it!
 
I was just about to mention that thread HB, well done! I spoke with Star about this (she is one of our HHO vets). One of my boys had similar loss of pigmentation as your boy, dull coat, lethargic, hind limb lameness etc., which are all symptoms of vitiligo, although I never had a vet to diagnose (can it in fact be diagnosed?). I researched it and it seems that vitiligo can occur mainly in Arabs and Anglo's and some IDs and occurs in certain horses who have a low copper diet. I contacted Wessex Animal Health who do a very good copper suppliment (about £30) which helped alot. You must be careful not to over dose on copper as it is toxic in high quantities. A lack of copper in the soil is common in old mining communities.

If you need any more info, feel free to pm me, or Star, or ring Wessex.

Good luck.
 
Link for horse health wessex

Horse Health Wessex

You know thinking about it, it was better this year and my mare had pretty much f/t turn out. Now in Winter she has limited t/o and the vitilgo gets worse ... anyway ordering some stuff from HHW and some other bits
grin.gif


Hb

Llwyncwn - Im glad I saved it as the search is bust!
 
Tried a copper supp when it first started, and several folk have said to use it just whilst he is changing his coat.
he is fine and well apart from the spots! if anything he's almost better since he got them! but it may have more to do with less hunting (he was a masters horse) and more schooling.
he is ID cob allegedly, so that maybe a factor i guess.
 
right - here's a photo of the little lad (little - i dont think so!)
the marking on his muzzle have faded a bit, and the ones round his eyes have got a bit bigger, but otherwise much the same now as when the photo was taken (easter 2007)

[image]http://www.proof.louisepollard.co.uk/t3web/pages/easter2007-%20064pr.htm[/image]
 
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