Chronic progressive lymphedema in draft horses.

Abstract

Chronic progressive lymphedema is a disorder of many draft horse breeds that presents with progressive swelling of the distal portions of the legs. This is associated with scaling, marked dermal fibrosis, and the development of skin folds and nodules. There seems to be a genetic predisposition to altered elastin metabolism and impaired function of the lymphatic system in the distal extremities. Management is palliative and involves keeping the feathers clipped short, treating secondary infections, daily exercise and skin care, hydrotherapy, manual lymph drainage and compression bandaging.

• Authors: Verena K Affolter
• Journal: The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice (Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract) Vol. 29 Issue 3 Pg. 589-605 (Dec 2013) ISSN: 1558-4224 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24267677 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Animals
• Horse Diseases (diagnosis, genetics, therapy)
• Horses
• Lymphedema (diagnosis, genetics, therapy, veterinary)