Photo Senstivity

emmad · Postby **emmad** » Tue May 15, 2007 3:22 pm

Has anyone heard of this?

Turns out Mr Fleck who we had been treating for mud fever on his white front pastern/fetlock area (and struggling for about 6 wks) has it. Did start out as mud fever according to the vet but turned into photo sensitivity. Which explains why it would get better then revert. Was seriously starting to piss me off.
I made colin go to the vet last week and that vet had us bandaging it at night and putting some stuff on during the day. Over the weekend I said this isn't working and reverted to my own treatment which at least helped a bit. Sent them back to the vet on the monday. Got a different vet that said arh ha Photo Sensitivity. So now he is boxed during the day (to keep out of sun) and out at night. With slightly different treatment but the main thing is keeping out of the sun.
Wow what an improvement. Finally.
Now I know why those horses that get mud fever on white socks can be so hard to fix. They are reacting to the sun as well.
What we have at to do (as the filtabac irritates his skin) is put on a manuka honey ointment first then the filtabac. I had been using filtabac but stopped as was irritating him. Hadn't thought about putting something else on first.

As an aside this has meant that the foal we are have in the box has company during the day. He's really settled well actually and isn't protesting too much when Fleck goes out at end of the day.

xfactor fan · Postby **xfactor fan** » Wed May 16, 2007 6:08 am

Is there any St. John's Wort growing around the pasture? This is a weedy plant with tear drop shaped leaves and yellow flowers, grows about 3 feet tall. Exposure can cause photo dermatitis. On humans it is a bumpy rash that itches, and is know to cause photo sensitivity on white coated/pink skin animals, mostly cows.

emmad · Postby **emmad** » Wed May 16, 2007 12:48 pm

Nope none of that.

Now I know he gets it and what to look out for can better prevent it or jump on it when first happens.

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Thu May 17, 2007 4:25 am

You could try throwing on some SPF 30

(Sun Block).

Cathyleabo · Postby **Cathyleabo** » Thu May 17, 2007 12:03 pm

I recently read that burns/sunburns are a type of allergic reaction to sunlight. I know that hydrocortisone cream is great for sunburns, and I wonder if an antihistimine or the hydrocortisone would be effective in treating your horses legs?

emmad · Postby **emmad** » Thu May 17, 2007 12:39 pm

I would think that both of those would return a positive swab though.

The Filtabac has zinc in it and acts as a sun screen as well. Must say have been impressed at the improvement in his leg. Just the keeping him inside during the day along with the current treatment is really working.

We were worried that the swelling wouldn't go down while he was inside during the day but must off been the sun causing the swelling as none there now.