Am I overreacting? Windgall or worse?

[nicnag]

Righto, you knowledgeable folks! set my mind at rest and tell me to stop making mountains out of molehills!

Quick recap - Ellie was treated for minor Spavin in her near side hind last year, steroid injections followed by Tildren in December 07, cleared as fused and sound earlier this year but off side hind has (not unexpectedly!) started to show signs of changes but decision taken to allow it to fuse without further treatment as she did not respond drastically well to the steroids or tildren and gets very stressed and grumpy when in the hosrpital.

Question is! Els developed a windgall low on her near hind fetlock (articular) last year, this has increased a little in size over the last month or so (now approx the circumference of a 50p) and has also become firmer. Last night I noticed she has two further soft swellings coming up above them. She is unconcerned about them, only in light work so not working on hard ground, in fact most work in walk and only with boots on. I can't say she is sound as she is technically slightly unlevel with the changes in the off side hind but I would have said that any signs of unlevelness are in the offside not the near. I've got images of suspensory injury in my head but there is no heat or pain ? Probably going to get the vet out anyway but any ideas appreciated!

 

[hellybelly6]

Has she been stabled recently?
Is the ground hard and does she stamp her hindlegs at the flies?
Do they reduce in size with exercise?

Jake's windgalls feel like puffy, fluid filled areas on his leg, just above his fetlock. They are non-painful to touch.

It sounds like they are windgalls, but if you have any doubt especially with her history, call the vet out to be safe.

x

 

[cellie]

I wonder is she is having same problems as my horse.We had op on spavins in jan and had to walk out on hard ground for fusion.No soft surfaces in my case hock couldnt cope with unlevel soft ground.The impact from walking out caused splint the vet thought it was suspensory ligament before his leg was scanned.The difference being the splint was on front legs.Just wondered if its a impact concussion type injury from not being able to work hocks properly.hope that helps as our problems are hock related.