I have a 4 year old Cremello QH mare that has suddenly become sick. Wednesday we used her to move cattle and she was fine then. Thursday she looked off, her face was slightly swollen and we gave a shot of penicillin. Friday she looked better, and Saturday morning we put her in the barn and she was all swollen up. When I first saw her Sat morning, she was right up against the windbreak(on the north side) as though she were trying to stay in the shade.
I am thinking it is Photosensitivity. Right now her face, ears and legs are all swollen. Her legs are swollen from above the hock to the hoof and they look like she is badly "stocked up". Her eyes are also watery and a little pussy, but the eyes look healthy other than the discharge and swelling around them. Her lips look like they are starting to "peel". Her ears are pretty touchy, but she doesn't seem to mind having the other areas handled. The main part of her body appears fine.
She is in the barn now and is eating and drinking, and other than being swollen, looks like she is not feeling to badly, she stands with her head up, and pays attention to what is going around. We have 4 other horses (all dark colored) and none of them are showing any syptoms. Tried our vet, but he was out on call yesterday, and not in today.
As a background, I have had horses for 20 years, so not a newbie at all. I have seen a horse with photosensitivity, but I did not see the early symptoms, just the white patches were peeling. We have also had cattle with photosensitivity.
Wondering if I could give her Dexamethasone??