Re: Puffy legs

Anne Barnes (barnes@numbat.murdoch.edu.au)
Thu, 5 Dec 1996 13:38:24 +0800

>I have a few thoughts which may or may not help...one, there is an
>alkaloid in lupines which can cause a type of poisoning, but the
>symptoms are listlessness, anorexia, etc. so that's not it. Two, there
>is a fungus which grows on lupines (primarily white and yellow
>varieties, but not blue) and causes liver damage. The condition is
>unknown here, since lupine isn't fed in this country, but it is common
>in Australia and South Africa. Don't mean to scare you, might check his
>gums for jaundice (yellow) just for fun. If they are, call your vet.

Lupinosis, from the fungus that grows on the lupin plants, is very rarely
caused by ingestion of lupin seed, so I would think you are quite safe.

The information about the oat protein that horses can be allergic to is
interesting - I have heard of horses with "protein bumps" that were on oats
- maybe due to that?

Of course, the hives may be completely unassociated with the feed, and
instead due to insect bite hypersensitivity - mosquitoes, biting flies etc.
What area are you from, Jill? Feel free to send a messageto me if you want
to discuss this further.

Anne
Western Australia