Aghhhh! Puffy leg...what to do?!

[katiejaye]

Ok well typical, I have the nationals on sat and Louis has developed a mysterious swollen hind leg around the fetlock. Lasy week it suddenly swelled up around the joint but it was not hot and he was not lame on it all. We kept it bandaged and hacked him lightly and it went down, especially after being ridden. Finally it went down but yesterday the same thing happened again

I came up early and it had swollen up again, not particularly warm and not lame on it. The only thing I can see is what appears to be a little mud fever or a small scab on his fetlock. I have put some heeleaze on and we went for a walk and although it didn't completely go down it did improve again. I took him for a hack a bit later on and he was completely sound and happy.

I have spoken to YO this morning who said that the leg was swollen again this morning, so they have bandaged it again. I have asked them to walk him out as much as possible to bring the swelling down but it's all a bit of a mystery. I am up after work so will reasses it then.

My YO/Instructor is convinced it's just a reaction to the scab/mud fever and has advised me that if he's not lame or sore on it to keep working him as normal seeing as work seems to bring the swelling down. He doesn't think a vet visit is at all necessary.

Any suggestions of advise with be greatly appreciated

 

[AmyMay]

How is it when he comes in from the field????

 

[katiejaye]

unfortunately the first time it happened I was away for the day and they noticed it first thing in the morning (he's stabled overnight) so not sure how it was when he came in from field. Second time it happened was when i noticed it yesterday morning. I will ask YM how it looks when she brings him in from the field at 4. I have little experience of mud fever so it's all a bit new to me! It seems though to be worse first thing in the morning and then goes down with work. I do suspect that it may have flared up again yesterday because he seemed to have knocked the scab of and it was bleeding a little.

 

[AmyMay]

It does sound as if it could be to do with that doesn't it??? Is he a little sensative - or a bit of a toughy??

I'm sure it's nothing to worry about - but given the importance of him are you inclined to get the vet to have a little look???

 

[vicijp]

Important thing is to keep him moving and dont get it wet. If he comes in then dry bandage.
If you get a course of Trimediazine (legal) off the vet it will be gone by the weekend.

 

[katiejaye]

[ QUOTE ]
It does sound as if it could be to do with that doesn't it??? Is he a little sensative - or a bit of a toughy??

I'm sure it's nothing to worry about - but given the importance of him are you inclined to get the vet to have a little look???

[/ QUOTE ]

he's fairly tough normally, not ever lame and never had mud fever before (*touching wood manically as I type!*). I spoke to YO today and he's adament that vet is not necessary and he's very effecient so I'm inclined to trust him. I agree though I may get it checked anyway just to be on the safe side. I think I'll give it one more day and if it's still bad i'll call the vet.

 

[katiejaye]

[ QUOTE ]
Important thing is to keep him moving and dont get it wet. If he comes in then dry bandage.
If you get a course of Trimediazine (legal) off the vet it will be gone by the weekend.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the advise, he's dry bandaged at the mo and I've asked YM to walk him out a often as possible until i'm up. I think I will call the vet and just ask their advise before I call them out.