'Cellulitis or MRSA?' Equine Health  

Cellulitis or MRSA?

Care for your horse armed with as much information as possible

Vicki from Oil City -

"I read an article in the March 2008 issue of Equus entitled "Watch out for cellulitis" about a retrospective study performed by the University of Pennsyvania which highlights the importance of early detection to prevent the potentially deadly complications from cellulitis."

The most obvious sign of cellulitis is extreme lameness with swelling of the leg. Many horses must be put down because of the terrible pain making the limb even unable to bear weight or the devastating laminitis develops in the opposite foot.

My question is, after reading this article is to ask if cellulitis is the same thing as MRSA which is a methicillin resistant strain of staph aureus. It looks to me like it presents the same way. What is the difference?

Reply #1 Marcus (63.176.159.202) -

Dear Vicki,

I found this webpage particularly helpful. It refers to both cellulitis and MRSA. So I would take a look and see if it can help to find an answer to your questions.

• Info

Reply #2 Jennifer King from Colorado -

Blaze had a sore suspensory and the vet recommended a soft cast to ensure the rest of the tendons and ligaments. I came to the barn daily to hand-walk him. I came out one evening to find the leg with the cast swollen like a tree stump. Mostly swollen above the cast. Needless to say I tore it off, began hosing as I awaited the vet to return my emergency call. I feared he had a fracture, there was a bump on the front of his leg and the fluid had begun to drop almost immediately. I continued howing, and waiting for her arrival. She felt almost immediately that it was Cellulitius. We began him on an aggressive treatment of antibiotics. Within 2-days the swelling was almost gone. I've heard terrible things about horses that got cellulitius. I feel that calling the vet immediately, and not waiting until morning made our situation so much better.

Reply #3 Geri (63.176.159.145) -

That is a beautiful horse!

Reply #4 Joe (63.176.159.213) -

Cellulites and MRSA sounds like it would be terribly scary. Losing a horse from something like that would be devastating.

Reply #5 Marriane (63.176.159.240) -

Contracting cellulitis from MRSA is very common and the degree of seriousness depends on the patient and their overall health. Cellulitis is an infection of the skin that forms in the fat and underlying tissue, but appears as a rash on the skin of the patient. The area that is infected is generally very tender and sore to the touch, as well as being very red in appearance with the formation of small bumps. The chances of catching MRSA cellulitis is very high for those who are in long term health care situations where they will be constantly exposed to other patients who could be possible carriers and the medical workers who treat them.

Here is the link for more information.

• www.symptomsmrsa.com/mrsa/mrsa-cellulitis/

Reply #6 cwemoy (63.176.159.244) -

Could I have a look at the article you read? Yeah that is a really beautiful horse. Isd she up for sale?

Reply #7 Mabel (63.176.159.109) -

That IS a beautiful animal! Gotta take care of it. Cellulitis in humans is awful too. Regards.

Reply #8 cwemoy (63.176.159.207) -

Plenty of adoration for that horse, enough reason for the owner not to even think of selling it.

The first post talks of the signs of cellulitis but does not state what is the main cause. Often there are cases of misdiagnosis of the underlying causes which are really varied.

An understanding of the real cause will help in proper medication. Here is a link I came across

• cellulitis

Reply #9 Eugene (63.176.159.140) -

Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin. It occurs when bacteria penetrate the outer protective layer of the skin, typically through a wound, but occasionally from other sources such as an initial infection or poor circulation. The bacteria then multiply and create chemicals that inflame the skin. Cellulitis is usually caused by Streptococcus pyogenes or Staphlococcus aureus but it can come from many other bacteria as well.

Here is link to see how we can protect our skin with streps

• www.ehow.com/how_2078195_prevent-cellulitis.html

Reply #10 moy (63.176.159.115) -

Cellulitis in itself has been said to be a symptom for other major underlying conditions. Adentis, the Chediak-Higashi syndrome, hemophilus influenzae B, Norcadiosis and the WHIM syndrome normally have it as a condition. The interesting thing is that these conditions will also be potential causes of Cellulitis.

Normally, it begins as a minor trauma, such as a bruise then goes on to extremity. By all means, everything should be done to prevent it

Reply #11 moy (63.176.159.136) -

A little insight into bacterial infections:

It is a fact that our bodies are filled with millions of bacteria, inside and outside. They cover your skin, live in your intestines and inhabit your private parts.

They live in balance and some typically help body processes along while others prevent infection from other harmful bacteria.

A bacterial infection can occur when harmful bacteria enter your body or existing ones get out of balance.

Reply #12 Maya (63.176.159.11) -

I never thought that cellulitis is a bacterial infection, thanks for those facts. But i have this idea that whenever i hear the suffix -itis it means inflammation, so i bet those skin infections are aside from itchy are painful.

Are there any medications intended to cure equine cellulitis? Those poor horses just needs help without us noticing it, is there any brand that you can recommend? thanks a lot.

Reply #13 Chicito (63.176.159.152) -

So what is MRSA

MRSA is Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus auereus, simply a staph infection. You can read more regarding staph infections on the link posted below.

So what is the connection between MRSA and cellulitis?

Though MRSA is a skin infection it is known to have symptoms that are more sever such as vomiting, blisters, production of pus, diarrhea, and in some cases, toxic shock syndrome.

Here is the link for further reading

• www.whatismrsa.net/

Reply #14 Eve (63.176.159.112) -

Horses are simply lovely creatures when we consider the advantages that they had attributed to the development of society and even mankind, in general. An integral role was played by many a horse back in the day, and they are still very much fond of, and also still very much widely used and accepted, today.

Reply #15 Conrad Dew (63.176.159.38) -

Putting down a horse? Isn't that too harsh to be a result of a mere infection? Aren't there any medications or operations which the horse can undergo? If an animal activist group would look onto these cases and reports of horses being put down because of a "mere" infection or inflammation, I am sure it will get a good number of raised eye brows and objections. I am not an animal activist but this is insane.

Reply #16 Eve (63.176.159.183) -

Truly insane it is Conrad. I wish that there were better methods to deal with everything that is sour in the world, but sometimes we as a people simply need to make these methods possible. It is hard to think of any otherwise, no doubt.

Reply #17 Eve (63.176.159.70) -

What else can one do sometimes, but simple adhere to what needs to be done.

Reply #18 adam (63.176.159.126) -

Indeed so eve, people should always do what it necessary, but isn't it going just a bit too far by saying that it is insane?

Reply #19 Rica (63.176.159.38) -

I thin it would be much better if those horses be treated properly and they do not deserve to be killed because of just mere infection, I agree to that. But what will happen if the infection worsen? Do you think the horse will be safe and will feel any better if you let him that poor situation, have you heard of euthanasia? Is this applicable to animals too? Thanks.

Reply #20 Polly (63.176.159.249) -

What do you do humans do when a person catches cellulitis? Does a doctor exterminate or kill that patient? The answer is no! He tries to find ways to treat this. One can not be called a true compassionate horse owner if he kills his horse just because the horse caught the disease. We, humans should no better. I have met a couple of this types of individual and believe me they do not deserve to be owners of such kind-hearted and free-spirited animals.

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