How do you treat purpura in horses?

Treatment. A veterinarian usually starts the horse on dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, which eases the immune reaction. In addition, antibiotics will stop any other respiratory infections and prevent further infections. The disease is often mild and the horse recovers well.

What causes purpura in horses?

Causes of Purpura Hemorrhagica in Horses Streptococcus equi infection, (strangles) Respiratory tract infection, often from other strains of streptococcal bacteria. Viral infection. Vaccination against Streptococcus equi.

How do you treat Purpura Hemorrhagica?

Most animals presenting with purpura hemorrhagica are treated with intravenous broad-spectrum systemic antibiotics. Potassium or sodium penicillin at an initial dosage of 22,000 to 44,000 IU/kg IV q6h is recommended because of the efficacy of this class of drugs against streptococcal organisms.

What is a hemorrhagic purpura?

Hemorrhagic purpura is an acute or chronic disease characterized by a marked decrease in the number of blood platelets, spontaneous hemorrhages from mucous membranes and purpura.

What are the signs and symptoms of purpura?

The signs and symptoms include:

Purplish bruises on the skin or mucous membranes (such as in the mouth).
Pinpoint-sized red or purple dots on the skin.
Paleness or jaundice (a yellowish color of the skin or whites of the eyes).
Fatigue (feeling very tired and weak).
Fever.
A fast heart rate or shortness of breath.

What does Purpura rash look like?

Rash (purpura). Reddish-purple spots that look like bruises develop on the buttocks, legs and feet. The rash can also appear on the arms, face and trunk and may be worse in areas of pressure, such as the sock line and waistline.

Is purpura an emergency?

Purpura fulminans is a rare, life-threatening disease state, classically defined as a cutaneous marker of disseminated intravascular coagulation, which can be present in both infective and non-infective disease states [1].

Is purpura an autoimmune disease?

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a rare autoimmune disorder, in which a person’s blood doesn’t clot properly, because the immune system destroys the blood-clotting platelets.

What autoimmune diseases cause purpura?

Immune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Low-grade lymphomas and leukemias may produce abnormal antibodies against platelet proteins. Sometimes the cause of immune thrombocytopenic purpura is not known.

When does purpura hemorrhagica occur in a horse?

Purpura hemorrhagica (PH) is defined as a condition of hemorrhage and edema that is triggered by an allergic-type reaction. Most often, PH is associated with strangles (Streptococcus equi ), but it can occur following infections with any streptococcal bacteria or virus (influenza).

Can a horse get Henoch-Schonlein purpura?

It has also been reported to occur in horses following vaccination against Streptococcus equi subsp. equi ( strangles ). The disease is similar to Henoch-Schonlein purpura disease in humans. Purpura hemorrhagica is most often involving sudden edema of all four legs and the ventral abdomen of the horse.

What kind of disease does a horse have?

Purpura Hemorrhagica. Purpura hemorrhagica (PH) is a serious immune-mediated disease of horses, which often results in the development of life threatening complications.

What kind of infection is purpura associated with?

Purpura is often associated with S. equi infection but may also occur in response to a number of different antigens.

How do you treat purpura in horses? Treatment. A veterinarian usually starts the horse on dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, which eases the immune reaction. In addition, antibiotics will stop any other respiratory infections and prevent further infections. The disease is often mild and the horse recovers well. What causes purpura in horses? Causes of Purpura Hemorrhagica…