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Discussion on Idiopathic Equine Corneal or "Band" Keratopathy | |
Author | Message |
New Member: 4merri |
Posted on Tuesday, Aug 31, 2004 - 6:39 pm: My 17 year old highstrung TB mare was diagnosed 4 weeks ago with Idiopathic Equine Corneal Linear or "Band" Keratopathy with secondary anterior uveitis and a cornel ulcer in one eye. (Last year she had a very minor ulcer in her eye, which cleared quickly.) This came on after only 12 hours of a noticable thin (1cm)vertical corneal stripe through the midline of the eye. The next morning her whole cornea was edematous, totally white and deeply opaque and the retina, iris and other parts were unable to be seen by my vet. Initially she was put on a triple antibiotic ointment, Banamine, atropine, which was then changed to atropine, oral bute and Muro 128 5% sodium chloride ointment and now steroids as the ulcer has gone. I have basically been told there is not a etiology nor a prognosis for this disease as it is so new. It is possibly due to a plethera of things such as stress, viral, bacterial, fungal, previous injury, etc. Apparently this is an auto-immune type of disease similar to Lupus. However, since it does have a name in the medical books now, maybe someone else has had experience with this. My vet is talking about a 4-6 month recovery of at best 80% of the sight returning. The recovery would include keeping her on the Muro 128, steroids and Bute daily, long term. I was also told to work her only "lightly". In addition, she has had gastric ulcers and I am worried about the Bute. I am wondering if giving her the herb Slippery Elm would do any good. Comments/opinions? Thanks. |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 1, 2004 - 8:02 am: Hello Cynthia,Though these is preliminary work of Slippery Elm and its antioxidant properties in disease there is nothing in the scientific literature to suggest it might help prevent ulceration. It is a unexplored question. If ulceration is a concern consider the use of low dose Gastro-Guard. For more on this see the article Equine Diseases » Colic and GI Diseases » Gastric Ulcers. DrO |
Member: 4merri |
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 1, 2004 - 7:59 pm: Dr. O: Thank you for your reply regarding the slippery elm for use with ulcer prevention. I'll take your advice.Do you have any information on this eye disorder? I have been quite frustrated with doing research on the internet and coming up with nothing. Not one article. Thanks. Cynthia } |
Member: 4merri |
Posted on Saturday, Dec 4, 2004 - 12:39 pm: FYI, just and update. I am still treating my mare. It has been almost a full 6 months now and just about a month ago it was about 75% clear, but then she was vaccinated for her Fall Flu/Rhino..MISTAKE..her eye blew out again, with large ulcers. Even though I followed the specific regime for the administration of her vaccinations, (doubling up on the dex, pre and post vacc.) Now we are back to square one. In the mean time, she has developed some additional "immune" issues. Scratches, non-healing bed sores and also her cribbing has really become an issue. Her weight is great, eating like a starved child, she is as high as a kite and becomming difficult to handle. She is not under any excess stress as I have not ridden her in 5 months and she is turned out all day, sun up to sundown on lovely pastures. We are treating her for gastric ulcers and all these things. The vet bills are getting out of hand. My vet tells me that this can be an ongoing problem for possibly years.For anyone dealing with eye problems, really consult with your veterinarian before administering any type of medication, herb and question the necessity of vaccinations. We are at such a set back now. Each time my vet comes out to check her eye it's an astronomical bill and I have actually been thinking of euthanasia as an alternative to a potentially long term treatment that is basically cost prohibitive. If I thought there might be some holistic resources for the current traditional therapy that I am using now, I'd do it. Any suggestions? Anyone with experience. CS |
Member: Suzeb |
Posted on Saturday, Dec 4, 2004 - 1:19 pm: Hello Cynthia,I am really feeling your pain and frustration right now and I am sorry that I can't offer any advice. It's interesting that you mention a relapse of symptoms after administration of the flu/rhino vaccine. May I ask if this was intranasal or the older type administered IM? My gelding is experiencing some oddball skin disease or reaction and I have been wondering if the intranasal flu vaccine or any vaccine had something to do with it. Immune system gone crazy?...I am not sure what the answer is and have been on the internet also trying to put 2 and 2 together . Have found similar things in humans, cats and dogs but nothing definitive for equines. Susan B. |
Member: Savage |
Posted on Saturday, Dec 4, 2004 - 11:02 pm: Hi Cynthia, I know your frustration concerning anterior uveitis, my horse has had it for "many" years, and has had corneal ulcers. (he is doing very well , although he is now blind in that eye) I am wondering if your horse might be going through some pain with this, sunlight can be very painful when the disease is active, especially if there is an unlcer do you have a flymask on your mare to protect her eye from the sun? or perhaps a patch?.Linda |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Sunday, Dec 5, 2004 - 8:57 am: Though it is easy to logically see why this might happen, I do not see such reactions when vaccinating horses with another common autoimmune keratopathy: Equine Recurrent Uveitis. On the other hand I do not give the flu/rhino to many of the horses in the practice.Hmmm, you know this could be supportive of a diagnosis of herpes keratitis. Herpes infects the cornea but the immune system cannot eradicate it >> vaccination for herpes >> increased immune reation to the herpes. Has herpes keratitis been considered? For more see Disease >> Eyes >> Viral Keratitis. DrO |
Member: 4merri |
Posted on Thursday, Dec 16, 2004 - 10:05 am: Hello: Thank you Linda and Susan for your responses...The flu/rhino was the older IM method. Yes, she has been wearing a special UV mask for the past 6 months, although I have to occationally switch it out with a regular fly mask covered with duct tape as the UV mask causes sores all around her eye and eyelid to the point of bleeding and scabbing, it really seems to collect alot of dirt and sand..she's a roller... and.. Yes again, she has ,I'm sure, excrutiating pain and does not open the eye at all in its' acute stage and then the vet pumps her full of IV banamine and atropine ointment in the eye. That seems to settle down the pain some.I have not, nor has my vet considered herpes, but I sure will mention it! Thanks for the advice. It would seem logical that with all the other immuno supressive symtoms that she is having this could be a real link....Wow! Also, I am getting a second opinion from a vet locally that does more holistic medicine and maybe has a different perspective on this as well...I'll keep you posted. Good luck with your horses..Cynthia |
Member: 4merri |
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 - 9:11 am: Hello: The saga of the eye continues. I have had another veterinary opinion of this eye as it once again blew up with huge ulcers and opaqueness. Why? ... Just the daily routine. She was put on EPIC immune booster which seemed to help a bit but not enough. The vet highly recommended enucleation of the eye as this is a "never get better" situation and with the ulcers she gets, opens her up to fungal and staph infection in which case would really pose a serious problem. Has anyone had experience with enucleation? What are the chances that this problem would then attack the other good eye? With her immune system down, once the eye is out would all of the other problems then resolve? or is this an immune problem that will find somewhere else to attack? What are the chances of infection and complications with this procedure? Thanks. Cynthia |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005 - 9:55 am: Though we do not know the chance the other eye may develop this poorly understood disease, enucleation is a fairly straight forward procedure that if done properly has a low rate of complications Cynthia.DrO |