It's About The Horse

whisperingwindfarms · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 2:41 pm Post subject: What is this? Help!

At first the owner thought it was a kick or a sting. Then vet ruled out Pigeon Fever/Dry Land Distemper (neither of which I know a thing about). Owner found it Sunday. This pic is from today. It's still swollen - doesn't seem to be sore to him. Crusty and waxy.

Any help would be most appreciated!
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PasoBaby_CarolU · Site Admin Joined: 31 Jan 2009 Posts: 9032

Good question. Is that a wound? What are the black specks? If it is a wound, is it draining? Did the vet try to drain it?

I would think abscess. But I think a vet would have thought of that too.

If there is no drainage or infection, it could be a fatty tumor or sterile abscess.
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whisperingwindfarms · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 3:01 pm Post subject:

Here's another one (sorry so large) - no wound that anyone can see. He's swollen around his sheath and one thigh as well.

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PasoBaby_CarolU · Site Admin Joined: 31 Jan 2009 Posts: 9032

Erin, then I would think fluid build-up. It is draining to these places...but real question should be WHERE is it draining from and why?

Are you sure he has no temp? Eating OK? When were his last vaccinations?

You might look up fluid build-up or pitting edema on the Internet. You'll see a range of conditions that can cause similar swelling in people. Animals get them all too.
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Carol Nudell
Corazon de Oro Paso Finos

"The path to your horse's heart lies through your own."

Rumors are carried by haters, spread by fools, and accepted by idiots. - Words of Wisdom - Mhar

‎"Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss activities; Small minds discuss people." - Eleanor Roosevelt

karmikacres · Member Joined: 14 Feb 2009 Posts: 1182

Might be a staph infection.
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whisperingwindfarms · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 6:12 pm Post subject:

I'll send these ideas to his owner. She has taken his temp every couple of hours since yesterday - no fever. I've never seen anything like it.
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Clarissa · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 10:01 am Post subject:

Looks like nettle burn to me.

Are the swollen areas hot? Is he licking at them or biting at them like they are itchy? Can you get photos of the other affected parts like the sheath & flanks please?

Does he have access to bushy areas where poisonous plants might grow? If he’s biting at the areas he might be causing the fluid buildup/edema himself. If he’s brushing over stinging plants that would be why just the under body parts are affected.

Can I see pine trees in the background of the first pic? Can he get to rub on those? Pine sap can cause burning to sensitive skin. Once a reaction cycle sets up it is quite hard to break it.

And according to your ticker WWF, you are off to Italy today so perhaps we won’t hear from you now for some time? Have a good trip anyway

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whisperingwindfarms · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 1:29 pm Post subject:

Thanks Clarissa! I'm very excited about the trip. I'll pass this on to the owner. Looks slightly better today - still no fever.
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ztmag · Member Joined: 15 Feb 2009 Posts: 65 Location: Nevada

Wow--sure looks like pigeon fever (which is the same thing as dry land distemper). How could the vet have ruled that out and yet not given any kind of a clue as to what it is?
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Clarissa · Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 1:12 pm Post subject:

thelmanelle · Member Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 3249

Is it several masses? Once, Flint got a bad stall at a clinic and when he laid down, he hit a major stump and got a HUGE abscess. But, more than one in a variety of areas could be suspicious.

Once, I saw an Arabian with swollen supraorbital fluid edema. I wondered what was with the blanket in 90 degree weather in Ga.? So i took it off him and I found grapefruit size masses all over his body. I called a vet and the owners and the barn manager to question why they were covering this up and were they just going to let him die in the stall with a blanket on knowing he was sick and hide it.

He went to Alburn and had a sarcoma type cancer and had to be put down. Shame on them for allowing that to go on and I am glad for his sake I caught it and he did not suffer any longer.

But, that horse should be look at more closely to see if there are more masses. Just FYI.
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dmcamelothills · Member Joined: 12 Feb 2009 Posts: 275 Location: Wisconsin

My mare just got an oval spot on her side that appears very similar to this. It did not spread and it hardened and I just brushed off the residue this week. I spotted it a week ago. No other issues. I have no clue what caused it and presumed it to be the oozing of a bug bite. However, these pictures appear exactly like what she had only over a much larger area.

thelmanelle · Member Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 3249

I see the pink skin under the coat, but it looks irritated. The coat is clumped and crusty debris around it is yellowish. Is part of the wound weeping or open to air? Am I seeing gnats on the wound? Or are my eyes bad?

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sebocat · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 5:48 pm Post subject:

They look like gnats to me, too

My belly button did something similar when I was bitten by a white-sock (like a gnat.) I got a huge blister that started to form alarmingly fast and drained all yellow and crusty. It was disgusting.

The bugs don't seem to bother my horses the same way though. Swelling in the horses seems to be localized to a small area around the bite.... Although thats all they do to most people, too.

Maybe he's just developed a sensitivity?
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TrustMeNaturally · Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 1:36 am Post subject:

I was just reading a friend's blog about a similar problem she has had with her mare. She was stung several times by bees or wasps and it developed in to what the vet thought was cellulitis (or vasculitis - the vet said it could be either) and it is hard to get under control, and takes careful watching.
You might find some good information by reading her blog. This is the beginning of her posts on her mare's condition:
http://ayearwithhorses.blogspot.c...-i-dont-wanna-and-dawns-neck.html
Hope your boy gets better soon!
Marianne
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