Wit's end with pastern dermatitis

Pearlsasinger said:
I have finally got on top of my cobs dermatitis. It's been a long haul with people feeding her over the field walls, which has had to get stopped and has cost a fortune in fencing BUT diet has been key. She now is fed Arovs Wiesencobs, Aloe Vera juice, natural Vit E, milk thistle, Marigold & Cleavers. We had most success with Sudocrem applied to the sores after trying a wide range of prescription and OTC lotions and potions.
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I should also have said that I found that adding linseed to the feed made her dermatitis worse. In fact I think that it probably started when I fed her Winter Balancer, although she had been eating Summer Balancer with no obvious problem.
 
suffolkp said:
Eek, so we have 'apply XYZ cream', 'don't apply creams' and 'wash them' 'don't wash them'.

That's not a complaint by any means - it's just hard to know what to do, especially as my vet's advice is steroid cream & clingfilm. That treatment with stable boots over the top worked to bring down the swelling overnight but I simply cannot get to the yard twice a day indefinitely.

I am keeping him in for the time being to let it properly dry out, but that can't continue for too long because of the KS. I've just put wound powder on for the day. I'll have to cave and order the SW, though it really sticks in my craw to give money to pro-Trump businesses.

Honestly fed up with it. For the last 2 years, it's been one thing after another. It's taking all my time and money (not insured except for accidents), and I've had to accept that we won't compete or really school above prelim level anymore. My dream was to compete at medium and I was on the cusp of achieving it when the latest round of disasters happened.
I'm tempted to simply retire him, but the vet says he must stay in work to help his back. He's an ok hack, but it's not really either of our best thing. Feeling miserable.
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my vet had no idea about silver whinneys. I'm not sure they had heard of them and they were horse vets. There is definitely sun at this time of the year so the SW's need to be on all the time the horse is out of the stable especially if we have snow. Think how bright it is then, sunglasses? ski goggles"

initially the vet diganosed LV and gave me a cream they had made up of antibiotic, steroid and base of udder cream. It didn't not work but was not enough. It did loosen the scabs and rubbing it on nightly I managed to get rid of some of the scabs but that was it. It was a pretty dangerous place to be down there. I had 2 white hinds. Then I read about SW's and the advice Dr Knott gave someone on here a long time ago. I cannot find it I think it is lost in the mists of time but you had to keep the sunlight off for a whole year. I did and never looked back. I suspect that sometimes people are not giving it long enough to heal and then "resolve" itself (for want of a better expression)
 
Haven’t read all of the replies but have seen LV/ Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis mentioned and if it’s just the white leg then it could well be that. It must be covered from all UV light at all times and stay away from alfalfa feeds, yellow plants and feed a high level of zinc. Even down to the coronet band must be kept away from all light even well past the time that the lesions heal up. Silver boots will be very helpful for healing and lotions just make it more sore
 
paddy555 said:
my vet had no idea about silver whinneys. I'm not sure they had heard of them and they were horse vets. There is definitely sun at this time of the year so the SW's need to be on all the time the horse is out of the stable especially if we have snow. Think how bright it is then, sunglasses? ski goggles"

initially the vet diganosed LV and gave me a cream they had made up of antibiotic, steroid and base of udder cream. It didn't not work but was not enough. It did loosen the scabs and rubbing it on nightly I managed to get rid of some of the scabs but that was it. It was a pretty dangerous place to be down there. I had 2 white hinds. Then I read about SW's and the advice Dr Knott gave someone on here a long time ago. I cannot find it I think it is lost in the mists of time but you had to keep the sunlight off for a whole year. I did and never looked back. I suspect that sometimes people are not giving it long enough to heal and then "resolve" itself (for want of a better expression)
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Suspect that may have been me; Dr Knottenbelt helped me to sort it out around 10 years ago. Invaluable advice; so many vets seem to misdiagnose or people assume it’s mud fever and the issue just multiplies
 
Billabongchick said:
Suspect that may have been me; Dr Knottenbelt helped me to sort it out around 10 years ago. Invaluable advice; so many vets seem to misdiagnose or people assume it’s mud fever and the issue just multiplies
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just couldn't remember who it was. Dr k gave the person permission to post his comments. I remember something about the size of the molecule.
It was wonderful advice and I was very grateful to you for posting.
 
I also used Filtabac after seeing it recommended on here and also started my horse on L94 from Trinity Consultants. Like yours his liver tests were ok but the vet still wasn't convinced and suggested repeating the bloods or doing a biopsy. Anyway after months of misery, creams, steroids, ABs (oral and injections) it finally cleared up when I started with the L94 and filtabac. I'll never know if it was a coincidence or not. Hope you find something that works soon, it's a really horrible condition when it just won't go.

Oh and just remembered - they need a low protein diet as protein can increase inflammation in an already susceptible skin, although it sounds like yours is on a low protein diet anyway.
 
paddy555 said:
just couldn't remember who it was. Dr k gave the person permission to post his comments. I remember something about the size of the molecule.
It was wonderful advice and I was very grateful to you for posting.
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Yes; the molecule thing is that they sit under the skin and grow with UV light which is what causes the immune reaction and lesions. Stopping the UV light stops the molecules growing but for them to fully die off you need to keep the UV light away for several months even once symptoms have gone otherwise they sit dormant then re enlarge as soon as exposed to UV. That’s a simplified version anyway and explains why so many people never fully get it to go away!
 
Billabongchick said:
Yes; the molecule thing is that they sit under the skin and grow with UV light which is what causes the immune reaction and lesions. Stopping the UV light stops the molecules growing but for them to fully die off you need to keep the UV light away for several months even once symptoms have gone otherwise they sit dormant then re enlarge as soon as exposed to UV. That’s a simplified version anyway and explains why so many people never fully get it to go away!
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thank you
 
The GP who also has a horse at the yard had a look today. Her opinion was that it really needed to be biopsied before doing anything else. So I'm waiting for the vet to get back to me about that (having already paid a £470 bill this morning...)
 
What are you feeding? There has been thought processes that alfaalfa can cause an issue with horses that are sensitive to it. Might be worth checking what your feeding to make sure it isn't an issue.

I've had experience of LV too and find keeping the horse bandaged up and out of direct sunlight is helpful to clearing it up. My horse has only suffered in the summer so she would go out at night wearing a fly rug, fly mask and bandaged up, she looked a sight but it worked.
 
lialls said:
What are you feeding? There has been thought processes that alfaalfa can cause an issue with horses that are sensitive to it. Might be worth checking what your feeding to make sure it isn't an issue.

I've had experience of LV too and find keeping the horse bandaged up and out of direct sunlight is helpful to clearing it up. My horse has only suffered in the summer so she would go out at night wearing a fly rug, fly mask and bandaged up, she looked a sight but it worked.
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Dengie Hi-fi, omega rice (linseed and rice bran) and top spec balancer
 
suffolkp said:
Dengie Hi-fi, omega rice (linseed and rice bran) and top spec balancer
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I think others have mentioned further up that the linseed maybe an irritant though I'm not sure what you could replace the omega rice with, maybe oil instead if you need weight gain/calories.
 
I've no direct experience of this condition but with a feathered cob I'm always battling a skin condition of some sort (mites, mallenders) I've had very good results with Hedgewich Essentials skin products and the lady who runs the company is very knowledgeable on equine skin conditions. Worth a look? all natural stuff.
 
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