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  Discussion on Laminitis and allergies(hives) in horses
Author Message
Member:
Tmb2006

Posted on Monday, Sep 18, 2006 - 9:42 pm:

My 8 year old Paint Mare was recently diagnosed with bilateral front feet severe abscesses. For the past 4 days, she has been at Ohio State University undergoing treatment.
She acutely became 3-legged lame in her right front foot and it was only after that particular foot's abscess was lanced, that it became apparent that she was equally non-weight bearing lame in her opposite foot. Just today, one week after she first presented lame, an abscess was found involving her left front foot. It is also believed that she likely has laminitis as well as a possiblity of some sinking?
I've been told that it is unusual for a horse to suffer bilateral abscesses unless perhaps there is an underlying metabolic problem such as Metabolic synDrOme or Cushing's. Correct?
My question is this- Could my mare's hypersensitivity (allergies) somehow play a role in her susceptiblity to laminitis? An altered hormone/metabolism as seen in the aforementioned diseases (Cushing) is known to be cause laminitis, why not allergies? The body's immune system must be going "amuck" for these allergies to develop (manifested as hives), could it not also influence the development of laminitis?
I read one link/discussion listed under "chronic laminitis/abscess" heading about an owner who also believes there is a correlation between when their horse showed signs of allergies (hives) and the year they didn't. The year in which they didn't manifest hives, they experienced laminitis. This is the same for my mare.
Any thoughts?
Theresa
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 19, 2006 - 8:08 am:

Hello Theresa,
It is mostly the founder that accompanies these conditions that predispose to abscesses. But another common cause is poor foot care practices complicated by wet weather. Though your thought on the relation of allergies and founder interesting it is not supported by wide spread experience nor a pathological mechanism that I am aware of. However there is one study that concludes that horses with chronic founder develop hypersensitivities. Reading the study it is not clear how they determined what came first.
DrO
Member:
Tmb2006

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 19, 2006 - 10:56 pm:

Thank you, Dr. O, for your response. Could I ask you a favor? The study you mentioned, how or where can I obtain a copy? I am interested in reading it.
I just can't imagine that there may not be some link or association between hypersensitivities and laminitis development. My mare suddenly developed allergies last summer, and also displayed sensitivity to a previously used antibiotic, SMZ-TMP, and experienced a mild lethargy, fever, or "ADR" symptoms after her annual Rabies/PHF vaccine. The antibiotic and vaccine are things she had had before. Now, this year, she acutely develops severe bilateral abscesses. I just don't believe in this kind of coincidence.
There's got to be some link with her immune system. What do you think?
Thanks so much!
Theresa
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 20, 2006 - 7:17 am:

If you go to the article on culicoides hypersensitivity under the skin diseases topic and push the scientific studies (Pubmed) link it should come up along with a brief abstract (summary) of the article in the list. You could do this also from the founder article but it may get lost in the background of the shear number of studies.
DrO
Member:
Banthony

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 20, 2006 - 2:20 pm:

Theresa,
My horse has always had a correlation between his front feet and hypersensitivity.

He had problems off and on for years with hives when I was having problems getting a farrier to shoe him (and later trim him) correctly.

Last year he foundered - a mechanical founder I believe rather than a metabolic founder. None the less he had trouble with hives off and on the whole time he was recovering.
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