Subject: Poney swollen all over - low red bloodcount - autoimmune problem?

[Martin Ditter]

From: "Martin Ditter" <mdi...@wanadoo.fr>
Subject: Poney swollen all over - low red bloodcount - autoimmune problem?
Date: samedi 4 juin 2005 08:44

Our poney fell ill in January. First his legs swell and then this swelling
propagated all over his body. When the swelling had spread he was sore all
over and would not move anymore at all.

By the time we decided to send him to the clinic his red blood count was
dangerously low and the vets did a marvellous job first stabilising his
condition and then, little by little, building him back up again. The
process involved blood transfusion and high doses of corticoids. Once
stabilised the poney was released home and given decreasing doses of
medication over a period of three months. This was accompanied by a
treatment of his hoves with ice cubes to prevent laminitis.

During the treatment a number of samples were taken to try understand what
the cause of his illness had been in the first place. None of these allowed
the determination of a precise cause and the vet concluded that an
unfortunate combination of incidents must have caused his immune system to
turn against his own red blood cells. Our hope was that such a combination
of factors would not be likely to reoccur and that our poney would continue
to be well.

He was really getting much better and after six more weeks after the
treatment stopped, about three weeks ago, we made a first attempt riding him
and continued doing so for about five minutes per day first, and then slowly
increasing the duration up to twenty minutes last weekend. We mostly walked
but in the end started trotting and, after the vet had given us the
go-ahead, tried a short gallop last sunday. The poney was happy and his
usual self, no signs of his illness.

After sunday the poney developed a small bump/abcess under his right leg
that the vet attributed to an insect bite or small injury bumping against an
obstacle in the fields where he spent most of his time. Since we were still
nervous about his health the vet decided to put him immediately under
antibiotics to help his body fight against any possible infection. At the
same time we treated the skin with disinfectant and showered the leg
regularly with cold water. This treatment seemed to work since the bump
seemed to go down at first.

On arrival at the stable on thursday we found the poney once more with
swollen legs. When we approached him he would not move and the vet, who
luckily happened to be around at that time, found that the swelling had
already started spreading to his back since the poney was all stiff and in
pain. We decided to bring the poney back to the clinic immediately where
blood samples were taken and the poney was put back on strong doses of
corticoids.

This treatment had a rapid effect and on friday morning the poney was pale
and tired but could move once more and seemed to take an interest in what
was going on around him. The only remaining swelling was on his right knee,
the same leg where he had the bump. The vet checked this swelling bu
manipulating his leg and the swelling obviously caused some pain when trying
to bend the leg. Echographs and radios of the leg were taken but revealed no
obvious problem.

More samples were taken of the poneys blood, urine and intestinal tissue (we
don't understand it all) and we now hope that the analyses of these and the
earlier blood samples will give us a hint where the problem comes from.

Is there anyone out there that has come across a case with these or similar
symptoms? Is there something the vet and we might have missed? The vet is
very pessimistic about the outlook and we are desperate to find a way how he
can save our poney.

Thank you for your help!

Please reply to mdi...@wanadoo.fr