| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
|
ali bali
Gold Member
Scotland
641 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Feb 2010 : 9:00:21 PM
|
Hi, for several months I along with my vet have been battling a skin condition which has been steadily worsening. Thus far it has been treated for mud fever but to no avail and my vet has begun to mention the dreaded LV words. I am at the end of my tether with this and feel so helpless and frustrated that I don't seem to be able to make him more comfortable.
A potted history; two y.o. gelding suffered a milder form of this complain last winter. Resolved eventually by use of iodine cream after Flamazine/anitbiotics failed. Reoccurred approx mid-Nov this year. Non-responsive to iodine cream, Equitrim/Flamazine scab cultured showed Staph Aureus with no resistance problem, further course of pen/strep combined with daily scrubbing with antibacteria soln and application of udder cream caused further swelling of leg and fresh break out higher up leg. Now in middle of 5 day course of Excenel antib (at £30 a day) in case of resistance to pen/strep and bathing leg in dilute iodine with no obviuous improvement. During last 8-10 weeks he has been mainly stabled with perhaps 1 hour turnout each day for leg stretch and sanity purposes. While his leg is swollen and tender he has not been lame on it.
I'll try to upload some photos, if anyone has had similar skin problems I'd be glad to hear about them.
I am going spare with this and very worried about using steriods for LV in case it is mud fever and the reduced immune response makes it much worse. Also concerned that doing a biopsy will introduce any infection deeper into the tissues. Struggling to find a way forward for this. 
|
Edited by - ali bali on 06 Feb 2010 9:02:17 PM
|
|
Report to moderator
|
|
|
BabsR
Platinum Member
England
2790 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2010 : 10:12:05 PM
|
Sorry....but disagree with all the washing/scrubbinhg and picking off scabs As all else has failed....try just keeping the leg completely dry, no washing,scrubbing or rubbing.
Apply 50/50 cream daily.....scabs will soon soften and drop off and will not leave another open wound to get re-infected. The continuous washing/scrubbing is making the skin ever more weak and the scrubbing is scratching the skin surface leading to further possible infection
Our land is very wet and muddy. We do not wash off legs, or brush them in the winter months If OH is riding..we bring in and leave legs to dry off naturally, then gently towel the dried mud off. We never have
a problem with mud rash, even with white legs
Babs
www.SunrayAngloArabianStud.co.uk
|
        |
Report to Moderator  |
|
|
jillandlomond
Platinum Member
Scotland
3586 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2010 : 08:09:24 AM
|
| Ditto to Babs reply! You're weakening the skin and allowing bacteria in by daily washing. |
    
Borders, Scotland |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Suelin
Platinum Member
England
2514 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2010 : 2:45:12 PM
|
| My chap has had similar problems to your horse and I solved it by the use of Camrosa. All clear now and far cheaper than the vet. Give it a try and keep at it, it may take some time but if it is anything like my horse you will prevail. |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Kazzy
Platinum Member
England
3335 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2010 : 4:02:52 PM
|
Does he get this in the summer months? My boy gets this on his heels and have always been in control of it but last summer he got it at the front on his front leg and its been a blooming nightmare to say the least. I have tried everything in the book to get rid of it, I refuse point blank for steriod treatment because his Mother was Laminitic and anyway my vet wouldnt give steriods to him anyway becuase of the close association.
It was very very sore and very inflamed and he was lame on it, he was in such pain when I tried to remove the scabs, the only way was to soak his leg in bucket of has hot as he could bare water whilst he was eating a feed and gently try to remove them, eventually after weeks they came off, I found applying creams ( I tried the lot!!!!!!) only made the situation worse, because the dirt and dust in the enviroment used to stick to the cream and add to the scabs getting worse. I bandaged his leg up with vetrap and applied cream but nothing worked until I soaked his leg everyday and loosened the scabs. I dried his leg of completely and applied just antiseptic powder which seemed to do the trick.
Its awful this and I hope to god he doesnt get it next year, i think it could be to do with the buttercups in the field??!!?? because he had sun sensitivty for a while and it usually cleared up within days of me finding it but this time it went on from July time till about Novemeber, each time I got rid it came back and went up his leg.
I might invest in some of them boots for next summer but he is a naughty little sod and doesnt like anything on his legs and usually wrecks them pulling them off.
Janet
|
     
Sunny Cheshire |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
gossy
Platinum Member
England
3639 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2010 : 5:33:00 PM
|
| i sudocreme mine before they go out and when they come back in, no cleaning no picking of scabs very cheap and works! |
   |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
JESSIEMAE
Gold Member
England
872 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2010 : 6:37:48 PM
|
Ditto Gossy, Sudocreme every time.. Good luck
Liza x |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Kharidian
Platinum Member
England
4297 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2010 : 7:43:51 PM
|
Sudocreme! Don't wash the legs, just apply the cream. I have had cases where I've alternated between Sudocreme and medicated udder cream (but I prefer the Sudocreme as it stays on the legs better) and added "purple spray" too if the problem wasn't resolving.
As it is so high on the leg and, IMO doesn't look to be a severe problem, I'd turn out for more than an hour a day too.
Hope it clears up soon.
Caryn
Caryn |
Kharidian (Prince Sadik x Khiri)........ Alkara Cassino (H Tobago x Rose Aboud)
aka "Roger".................................... aka "Chips"
     
The first image is from an original painting by Pat Shorto.
South-East Essex |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
mogwai
Platinum Member
England
2717 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2010 : 7:46:38 PM
|
Absolutely, without a doubt LV. Very classical size, appearance, location and shape (they are getting it this winter because of all the snow). Staph aureus infection is very commen with LV
Don't put gunk on at all. If absolutely necessary wash with very dilute hibscrub, keep stabled and call the vet.
Send some pics to Derek knottenbelt at Liverpool univeristy vet school (he's an expert on this condition. he will be able to help, and will be interested in the case), or get your vet to do it, he'll be able to speak to him directly via the vet advice line, and take his advice. It is managable, you you have to keep the legs clean and dry and you have to keep them out of the sunlight until the problem has resloved (up to 6 weeks!) Sometimes thbey never get it again, sometimes they need to have their legs cover, or be stabled during daylight, at least during high uv times (snow and summer). Mine didn't need biopsies to diagnose, as they were so classical. They had no systemic steroids or anitibiotics (despite having a barteria resistant pseudomonas) after the initial misdiagnosis, they had a steroid spray on their legs, which is to be continued every 3rd day, along with the gentle hibiscrub washing (emphasis on gentle, then blotting dry). They have responded well to treatment.
Best of luck
Ros xx |
Edited by - mogwai on 07 Feb 2010 7:57:55 PM |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
ali bali
Gold Member
Scotland
641 Posts |
Posted - 08 Feb 2010 : 11:23:51 AM
|
Thank you all for your help and suggestions. Spent all weekend on the net researching LV as had heard of it but never seen it before, including the helpful threads on here! Will be contacting my vet again and asking him to ring Dr Knottenbelt for advice as he seems to be the main expert in the UK on this kind of thing.
I agree that picking/scrubbing etc only made things worse, again vet advice, I stopped after a few days. All 3 used to come in muddy and dry off without washing brushing etc. 2 still do and have never had a problem but Mal developed sores and it all went downhill from there 
Luckily while he is a bit uncomfortable he is not miserable with it (though sick of being cooped up ) but I feel so helpless to clear it up. Have taken 2 separate vets advice, spent a fair old whack on drugs and so far its only gradually got worse  Lets hope a new tack will get him on the mend. |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
phoenixbruka
Gold Member
England
1190 Posts |
Posted - 08 Feb 2010 : 4:16:22 PM
|
yep , looks just like my boys did when I got him
just as Ros has said, keep out of the sunlight, also look at your feed. Alfalafa, Soya ( inc oil!)+ molassess all aggrevate L.V
My boy is on dodson +horrell equine sensitive and works a treat 
ALL the stuff like topspec bluechip equillibra etc etc will aggrevate it as they have Soya oil as a bulking agent. the D&H feed is then only one I've found ( after MUCH reasearch!) to be "LV safe"
best of luck with it!
susie |
   
www.liveryatcordwell.co.uk |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Qui Gon Jinn
Platinum Member
Scotland
1627 Posts |
Posted - 10 Feb 2010 : 7:49:18 PM
|
I totally agree with the others! DO NOT WASH THE LEGS AND PICK SCABBS OFF!!! My mare's legs looked much the same as your lads last October and I tried all the usual vet recommendations, but the mud fever was getting worse. I had spent a fortune on all sorts of remedies and my husband was starting to get really angry at the money I'd spent on lotions and potions!!
In the end my local tack shop recommended Equimins MSM Cream (not the ointment, as it's too thick to apply properly) and it worked super quick! I stopped washing her legs and just applied the cream daily. Within 2 weeks, her legs had healed and the scabs fell off themselves. My mare was living out at the time too, as I didn't have her new stable finished at the time. I was amazed. I'll be keeping a tub of this remedy on hand premanently now!
Good luck. |
The Soul would have no Rainbow....If the Eyes had shed no Tears. |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
mogwai
Platinum Member
England
2717 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2010 : 4:21:45 PM
|
Hi Ali. Any news? Did your vet contact Dr Knott? Hope your boy is feeling better
Ros |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
ali bali
Gold Member
Scotland
641 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2010 : 10:20:01 PM
|
Hi Ros, thanks for asking about Mal, sorry Ive not been online, broadband been down for days 
As Im in not so sunny Scotland my vet contacted Edinburgh vet school. The advice given was it looks like primary vasiculitis (need to google it for the difference, if any, to LV!) cover/bandage for 2 weeks to protect from light. Leave well alone except for a covering of Sudocrem to discourage 2ndry infection. Sun chaps have just arrived (will be padding underneath to prevent rubbing).
While waiting for chaps have left well alone except for gentle Sudocreming. Skin still VERY hot and leg swollen, but I think a little less. Sores have neither improved nor got worse so will reserve judgement til the chaps have had a chance. If no improvement on this treatment I will press him to contact Dr K as the next suggested step is systemic steriods and Im really not keen, particularly as he is still growing.
Hope both your girls continue to improve, Al |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
mollydog
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
55 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2010 : 12:35:31 PM
|
Hi
try horse chestnut tincture - about 10 drops in feed
you can get it from health food shops
we have a horse where I work that had LV, the owner did a lot of searching and found horse chestnut is supposed to help circulation in legs (used for varicose veins) as it was not expensive we put him on it and he has been clear for 9/10 months.
When he has not had it for a few days,if we ran out of it, his legs have filled a bit, I don't know if it was what helped clear up the LV but its worth a try?
We also stopped all washing, picking etc and he does stay in out of sun but not all day and was out over christmas in the snow all day and night. |
     |
| Report to Moderator |
|
| |
Topic |
|
Mud fever or LV (photos)?
