Need help with diagnosing this problem

wgc517 · Postby **wgc517** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 8:43 pm

My (pregnant) mare has some small drainage coming from her chest and neck in various places. They look like small bug bite areas. They are without hair. It happened a few weeks ago and we (vet) treated it with Bactrim DS and cleaned the areas. It seemed to clear up.
Today I noticed it again. The discharge is yellowish but clear of pus (as it was last time). She does not have a fever but the area that is infected is very hot to the touch. Also, this time the infection seems to go higher up her chest to under her throat area and one side of her throat seems to be infected. I was thinking maybe it was strangles but there is no discharge from the nostril. She has been vaccinated for strangles in Feb. The discharge dries and gets crusty, then seems to irritate the area almost caustic like.
She also seems to be very sensitive to bug bites. Could it be a bug bite gone bad?
The vet is coming in the morning but they were the ones who treated it last time and I just want to make sure we didn't miss something. They did not know what it was from. I am going to have them culture it. Just wanted to get other opinions.
thanks

karenkarenn · Postby **karenkarenn** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 9:02 pm

Don't do anything, unless you have time to quarentine, until your vet arrives.
Just wait until the vet gets the results back. It could be several things.
Strangles-- My filly never had a temp when she had it.
Pigeon fever-
Bug Bites
Anything. Get some sleep and pray for good results.

Diane · Postby **Diane** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 4:22 am

It could be an allergic reaction to insect bites. Is she on pasture and grazing? Have you seen her rubbing/scratching the affected area? It's not on her muzzle? Her mouth looks ok? Probably not a noxious weed then so I'd hope for insect allergy. You've got a summer bug program? Fly sprays, predators or fly sheet? Horses can be given oral antihistamines. What you are describing sounds like an exudative dermatitis, a skin biopsy could prove it but your vet might choose to try an antihistamine first. She's in foal though and I haven't a clue about horse meds during pregnancy.
Good luck

Crystal · Postby **Crystal** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:46 pm

bad horse fly bites swell and get infected fast.. Like from those big giant greenish horse flies.

wgc517 · Postby **wgc517** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 4:50 pm

Thanks Crystal,

I am just being super cautious. I do think it is from fly bites but it seems to keep happening in the same area. It happens so quickly and it seemed to affect her lymph nodes near her jaw area. Since she is not running a fever and has no discharges from her nostril I am not as concerned as I first was. I started her on Bactrim DS and washed the area well and kept cold water on it for 5-10 mins. I then put some black save on it to draw out some of the discharge and she seems to be doing much better today. I will continue to do it for a few days and we will see where we are at.

I wish posting pics was easier on this site so I could share. I just don't like the way it currently is set up but that is my problem.

thanks again..

Crystal · Postby **Crystal** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 6:29 pm

I would also ask your vet about putting her on SMZ/TMP's for a few days incase it is a re occuring rash or infection.

wgc517 · Postby **wgc517** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 6:33 pm

Thanks, I already did Bactrim DS is the brand name for SMZ/TMP...

griff · Postby **griff** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 7:37 am

stalling her during daylight and turning her out at night might be worth a try

griff

wgc517 · Postby **wgc517** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 11:01 am

Thanks all,

It appears that it is probably being caused by a bad reaction to fly/bug bites. She is particularly sensitive and the bites must get infected and cause and inflammatory response in her very quickly. She has improved much but I will still get a culture to make sure.

I couldn't wait until summer, now I cant wait for winter.

majxmom · Postby **majxmom** » Mon Jul 18, 2011 11:28 am

Glad that you've had your vet see it, since internet diagnostics can be dangerous. But since it seems like bug bites, I'd also suggest worming your horse with ivermectin. It does keep the biting bugs off of them for a week or so. I have one mare that is very susceptible to bugs. She gets flyblow in her eyes and summer itch on her belly from one day's exposure to flies. So I worm her every two weeks for the 8 weeks we have bad flies.

Also, Bag Balm works great to keep the flies off of damaged tissue (not in the eyes!). It's sticky quality makes the flies stay off, and it softens up the calloused, cracked skin.

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 5:50 am

I once came across a sweet little Appaloosa mare in Florida, whom I was invited to ride whenever I wanted; she had big areas of "elephant hide" and hair missing everywhere. I found medicine for mange in the barn.. but it wasn't mange. She was allergic to sand fleas. I started giving her a bath with Avon Skin So Soft once a week, and after any rainstorm where she got soaked, and she healed up completely in a couple of weeks.

You could try that.

wgc517 · Postby **wgc517** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 5:58 am

Thanks to all that have responded. It turns out is very sensitive to fly and/or insect bites. I was able to get it under control with cleaning the areas with chlorhexidine, giving her antibiotics, cold baths, silvadene cream and a shot of flunixin. I appreciate everyones suggestions greatly. I am now using Swat on her to help control insects and am trying to manage the flies as best I can. It seems to be working well.

oleos93 · Postby **oleos93** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 9:40 am

I think like people, horses with age develop allergies they may not have ever had before, and we go all crazy trying to figure it out.

Glad it was just a bug bite!!

wilf · Postby **wilf** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 9:39 am

If it happens again soon then please post again as I had a similar event last year with a gelding from a farm/racetrack environment who was not doing well so I wormed him for 5 days in a row and gave him Gentamicin all week and he literally turned inside out. It was migrating worm larvae and I thought that the damage was irreversible but with time he came around and when started to race again he was a model of consistency.

cewright · Postby **cewright** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:34 pm

You may want to talk to your vet about onchocerca, which is a parasite (thread worm) carried by biting midges. We had a gelding some years ago which demonstrated your symptoms and this was the cause. Treatment was relatively simple but possible side effects of the larva dying can require additional treatment. Many vets have never seen this so they might not recognize it at first.

Chuck