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  Discussion on Recovering from vasculitis
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New Member:
patcat

Posted on Monday, Sep 6, 2010 - 9:02 pm:

Hopefully, I am in the right discussion. A virus went through my barn in early July. The symptoms were fever, some with swollen legs and some with diarrhea, and some with all three. My horse was not the first to get sick, but when he did it was bad. He had a high fever, 105+, with no diarrhea, with bute and banamine, and he went from a viral infection to a bacterial infection. The vet tried 3 different antibiotics, and none of them kept his temp down. After a week his legs started to swell. The vet and I went through 14 days of hell. His legs were hurting him, and his respiration was high, even when his temp was not. He had developed vaculitis. Walking him would decrease the swelling and his high respiration would go away, at least in the beginning. You can imagine his blood work was not good. We also gave him IV fluids. After 13 days he completely stopped eating and drinking, so we took him to a hospital, where he stayed for 3 weeks. To make a long story short, he finally got better, and came home Aug 6. His usual weight is 1000-1100 lbs and he lost about 300lbs. At one point during the hospital stay he went into renal failure, but turned around after loads of fluids. I might also add he rotated in all 4, but not a lot. Anyway, my problem is only his hind legs. All his blood work has improved dramatically, he has gained half of his weight back, but he still has swelling in all 4 legs. Only the back legs bother him, and his LH especially. He is turned out for about 14 hours at night and his swelling reduces. He is in his stall during the day, and his legs swell up some. It is really not severe, but if I trot him a little he is lame in his left hind. I have spent a lot of money, but I can't get an answer about what is going to happen here. I wonder is he going to stay lame. There is more, but if you can just relate to this.
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Monday, Sep 6, 2010 - 9:22 pm:

Oh my.

A horse of mine was gravely ill for over two months and the hind leg swelling was a hallmark of his illness.

I would ice his legs with wraps containing ice cells at least a couple of times daily and then massage the swollen areas with Witch Hazel.

It seems like such a silly and simple remedy, but the Witch Hazel and the rubbing was ultimately helpful for getting out the remaining remnants of swelling.

Turn out 24-hours per day was helpful.

Once swelling sets into the limbs like this it really takes time to get the swelling out.

It concerns me that your horse is having pain issues. Make sure that there is no thrush going on due to stalling and lack of exercise. It could be that your horse is working up to an abscess, which is a very common following laminitis.

His feet are probably going to have to go through a complete remodeling process before he is completely sound again.
New Member:
patcat

Posted on Monday, Sep 6, 2010 - 10:40 pm:

I guess I need to add that we tested him for many, many things,and they were all negative, so we really don't know what started in the barn. I might add, he is also metabolic, with Cushings, and insulin resistant, although he is not an old horse. Concerning Vicki Z's post, we did a load of walking, hosing, massaging, and it definitely helped his legs, in the beginning, but the amount of drugs took it's toll on his kidneys, and he went into a landside. His feet have nothing to do with his being lame, it is all the residual effects of the vasculitis. He no longer has vasculitis, but he does continue to have edema, with whatever damage the vasculitis caused.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 7, 2010 - 1:28 am:

Hi Patricia. We had three horses get vasculitis several years ago, and to varying degrees of illness. In the worst case the horse foundered on all four feet and I was very concerned about the skin breaking as the leg swelling was so severe. I cold hosed as often as I could, used a cool gel and pressure wraps the rest of the time. The horse that had the worse case did have swelling that came and went in his hind legs, his genitals, and rear of his stomach. Due to the severity of the laminitis and then founder, we couldn't really exercise him. Eventually the swelling stopped, but it took several months of treatment before it did. All three of the horses recovered. The older mare had no residual effects at all. The younger mare continues to develop laminitis easily so I have to be very careful regarding her feet. The gelding, who had the most severe case, was fine for many years, then developed laminitis in both front feet and developed Cushings also. With medication and treatment, special diet, etc. we were able to keep him comfortable for a few more years, but did have to euthanize him finally due to the severity of the laminitis. All three horses had lost quite a bit of weight, but quickly gained it back. The two mares were bred again and continued to produce healthy foals. Not sure this is much help, but am passing it on in case it helps a little.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 7, 2010 - 7:37 am:

Hello Patricia,
The swelling will resolve quicker if you pressure bandages are used at least while stalled. The lameness may not be related to the swelling. This should be looked at with a good lameness exam and if necessary diagnostic anesthesia to localize the lameness.
DrO
New Member:
patcat

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 7, 2010 - 2:14 pm:

I kept bandages on him always while he was in his stall, the first week his legs filled. When we took him to the hospital, they took the bandages off, although they agreed with me that he had vasculitis, and his legs were hurting him. Eight doctors looked at him while he was at the hospital, and none of them suggested putting the bandages back on. After they gave him large amounts of fluids, and flushed him with Lasix, his legs seemed to stop hurting him as much, but they were still swollen. He never had any cracking of his skin. Most of the swelling is gone, but he does still have swelling in his LH suspensory, and it is hard. I decided to put the bandages back on him this morning, while in his stall. I am waiting for a reply from the hospital about the lameness in his LH, and as I said they did agree, all 8 doctors and my vet at home, that he is lame from the damage from the vasculitis. I guess I am impatient, and would like to know if there is something I can do, like physical therapy to help his LH?
Member:
mrose

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 7, 2010 - 2:36 pm:

Someone else may have better suggestions, or Dr.O. might have other ideas; the only thing I can think of is to message with cool gel and cold hose. I sympathize with the impatience! When I have a sick animal I want it fixed NOW and it is so difficult to not know what is going on. Good luck.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 8, 2010 - 7:55 am:

Patricia, I am a bit confused, in your first post you state "he still has swelling in all 4 legs". This is the swelling you should address with bandaging and while I agree with the Drs decision not to bandage the hot painful legs, it is hard to imagine they would disagree with bandaging legs filled from passive edema as it likely now.

As to the LH lameness exactly what damage do they believe occurred during the vasculitis issue?
DrO
New Member:
patcat

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 8, 2010 - 1:08 pm:

Yes, Dr. O he still has swelling, but there is very little now, except his LH. The main swelling in his LH is around his suspensory area, but it is not real big. This leg was always the most painful leg. He walks great on it, and when he is grazing he doesn't constantly rest it anymore, but when he is in his stall he will rest it the most. I put the bandages back on his hind legs the past 2 mornings, and his legs look much better. When he was at the hospital, and he stopped pawing and his respiration was normal, I think they should have bandaged him then, but they didn't. All I know is, I don't think he has vasculitis anymore, he just has edema, and I believe they think the same. They said that having vasculitis for the length of time he had it can cause, vessel damage, or something like scar tissue, but not exactly. I think he needs some physical therapy, but I guess I need to wait and see what my vet has to say after he talks to the vet at the hospital. He is also going to talk with a vet he knows at Rood and Riddle. I haven't jogged him again, but maybe tonight after I graze him and before I put him in his paddock, I will jog him a little and see how he goes.
New Member:
patcat

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 12, 2010 - 11:04 am:

I thought I would give an update on my horse, and ask another question. He is looking better everyday, and has gained about 200 lbs, but still needs another 100 lbs. He is bright and vocal, and moves around real good at a walk, but is still just a little off on his LH at a trot, and mostly the first few steps. For the past two weeks I have kept the hind bandages on him all the time except when I hand graze him or ride him, and that definitely seemed to help. I started riding him about 2 weeks ago, at a walk, and it helps him a lot.

My question is about giving him his fall shots. The vet usually gives fall shots in September, but of course he wasn't ready for that. In the fall he just gets Rhino-flu and Rabies, and I won't give them at the same time. This week I will do a full blood panel on him again. The last was Sep 16. I was thinking that even if all his blood work looks good, maybe I should not give him the Rhino-Flu and Rabies. He gets Rhino-Flu twice a year and Rabies once a year, and I hear that Rabies will last longer than a year. I am concerned about giving him his fall shots because he has not completely recovered from the effects of the vasculitis. I was thinking about waiting until March or April when he gets his spring shots.

What do you think?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 13, 2010 - 9:08 pm:

Hello Patricia,
You will find our latest general recommendations on vaccination in the articles in HorseAdvice.com » Horse Care » Horse Vaccines, Vaccination, Coggins Test. But you will find more specific information on the vaccines in the articles on the specific diseases. Usually links to these more specific articles are provided in the more general articles so I would start there.
DrO
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