Pemphigus Foliaceus - Morgan Mare

Yes, we started her on prednisolone three days ago. We stopped the dex last night and will continue on prednisolone. I just hope it gets better. She is bright and eating well but the swelling in her back legs only goes down when you walk her. Guess I just need to give it some more time.

Thanks again,
Letha

Sorry, I'm trying to figure out this web site. I tried to reply and not certain where it ended up.

She has been on prednisolone for three days now. We stopped the dex im last night. She seems bright and eating well but still has swelling in the back legs. The swelling does go down if I walk her so will walk her a few times a day. The swollen sores are still all over her body. She is appearing to get itchy now. Don't know if this is a good or bad sign. Hopefully she continues to improve. She has never gotten back to the point she was three days post initial treatment. We are on day 8 today.
Thanks,
Letha

Sometimes immune problems take some time to get under control. The itching could be a sign of healing in the sores which would be good. At least she seems fairly comfortable now, I guess all you can do is wait and see how the treatments go, keeping my fingers crossed for you girls!

Well, we tried the prednisolone tablets and tried removing the dex and she relapsed, new sores and all four limbs swollen. So back on the dex (Sat. night 30 mg IM, Sun. night 20 mg IM and then Mon. night 10 mg IM). As each time before, the dex IM does wonders for her but it appears she may be getting it back. I'll know for certain when I get home tonight. I hope to talk with vet today to determine what to do if she does relapse a third time.

She is eating well and gaining back some of the lost weight which is good news.
Letha

hoping for good news for you, I'm sorry you guys seem to be fighting an uphill battle. Will keep my fingers crossed that you hear something positive from the vet.

Well, it doesn't seem to be going well. She relapses about every 3 or 4 days off dexamethosone shots. She's been on 30 tablets to prednisolone daily and for the last four days, she is now also on 20 tablets of Azathioprine. She was backsliding again last night and had to give her another dex shot. We have been trying to get her in remission for 35 days now without any success. Some of the sores are healed but now they are also on her eye lids and anus area. She is sloughing off the skin on all four legs. The new skin appears thinner and not much hair. She often has the swollen legs, first the rear legs and then the front.

I'm considering putting her down. I feel I have to have some sort of good news by end of the year. I do believe she is in a certain level of pain. This is would not be a good life and these drugs will eventually destroy her insides or give her laminitis. I just don't know if I'm simply delaying the inevitable.

Wish I had better news to relay.
Thanks for listening,
Letha

I'm so sorry to hear about your mare. I'll definitely be keeping you both in my thoughts--hopefully she'll begin to feel some relief soon. It sounds like you're doing everything you can to help her.

Update on my mare, she might be backsliding. The vet has a resident and he didn't order the right amount of Azathioprine so we ran out. In 24 hours, it appears it might be coming back. I'm looking into homeopathic now as don't seem to be getting there plus I'm concerned about all the drugs we are giving her.

I'll keep you posted and thanks,
Letha

Thinking about you and your mare.

Had a similar situation with a filly a few years back. Tried most of what you are doing.

Don't know why but she responded the best with a mix of benedryl, histamine blocker (like pepcid for heartburn) and prednezone.

had to inject her at first but then we could maintain with benedryl until it came back--usually 1 to 3 months--then back to the triple shot.

Hello 5cuetrain,

How old was your filly when she came down with pemphigus and is she still alive?

She did back slide because the meds were two days late. But the sores were just starting back up so I think I caught it in time. Hopefully.

Thanks,
Letha