Chronic progressive lymphedema (CPL) is a debilitating condition affecting draft horse breeds causing progressive limb swelling, skin thickening, and chronic pain that significantly impairs welfare and quality of life.
CPL causes progressive, ultimately severe welfare impairment. In early stages, the condition causes leg discomfort and pruritis from mite infestation — affected horses stamp and rub their legs chronically. As the condition progresses, the massive limb swelling causes difficulty walking, postural discomfort, and skin breakdown with secondary infection. Mite infestation causes intense suffering — untreated Chorioptes mites cause extreme scratching, self-trauma, and sleep disruption from the persistent itch. Management requires weekly leg washing to allow inspection, regular mite treatment, bandaging to manage swelling, and daily exercise to promote lymphatic drainage. The welfare of CPL horses depends entirely on consistent, dedicated owner management throughout the horses' lives.