03 September 2008 16:31
My nine-year-old Welsh Cob x TB mare developed a swelling on her belly. She suffers from sweet itch and wears a Boett blanket. The swelling came up overnight and caused all her hair in the area to fall out. It went down again very quickly and my vet advised no treatment at that point as it seemed to be healing.
However, a month later, it swelled up again. My vet prescribed Malaseb shampoo to be used twice weekly and Fucidin H cream to be used twice daily. Although the swelling has gone, the area is still hairless, sore and itchy.My vet says the next step is to try antihistamines and, if that doesn’t work, a short course of steroids. I’d like to avoid steroids as she had mild laminitis when she was four. Would it be worth trying apis? And can I use this at the same time as the treatment my vet is giving?
Answer
By Your Horse
Vet Malene Jørgensen says:
From your description and the horse’s history of an allergic disposition, it is highly likely that the swelling is caused by a reaction to a fly bite, or contact with noxious plants such as nettles. You should, however, ask your vet to take a blood sample to check for any problems with her liver or kidneys, as ventral oedema can be secondary to conditions in these organs. He might also want to check her heart, as heart problems are another common cause of such swellings.
The treatment so far has been to reduce the inflammation in the area and to prevent infection in the skin. I think it’s a good idea to give a homeopathic remedy a try, but you should inform your vet and mention that the remedy is not likely to interfere with any conventional treatment he might give your mare. I think you should ask your vet for a referral to a qualified veterinary homeopath. Single remedies like apis can relieve acute symptoms but, if you also want to try to help her sweet itch, a full work-up by a professional is most likely to bring a long-term effect and possible cure.