Big fat leg- no obvious reason

[McNally]

My Tb's back legs often fill overnight- he gets turned out in the morning and by the time i get back at lunch he's ok again, Today however one leg is huge- well ok not huge I've seen bigger but its very definitely swollen!
I washed it off to search for nicks or cuts, nothing. There is no heat, he did snatch it away at one point but then didnt again after (and also he's not great with his back legs anyway...bit touchy!)
He's sound and i wouldnt be bothered but its only one leg which slightly concerns me.
I took him for a walk- just led him from another horse to see if he "walked it off" he was happy to walk and trot but still fat!

any ideas?

 

[cellie]

My tb mare had this 2 years ago ,I said same no nicks or cuts but after couple of weeks found tiniest little nick where she had brushed her back legs a fetlock boot has stopped any more injuries.Smallest bit of mud kept reinfecting the cut and then she would knock scab off.Have look for nick around fetlock on inside where he could brush.Like urs it was swollen in morning and had gone down after turnout.

 

[Cobber]

A couple of horses at my yard had this within about a month of each other. Both turned out to be cellulitis caused by the tiniest of cuts or nicks that had gone unnoticed. I think some antibiotics from the vet and exercise sorted it out fairly quick.

 

[lcharles]

My mare used to get windgalls when she was in at night, its from bad circulation i believe, stable bandages would stop this but as for the fat leg, any chance it could be from mud fever? they can get an immflamation even from a tiny nick you can't see. Usually on a white sock or pink skinned area? x

 

[McNally]

Cellulitis was my thought, hope not!
This leg isn't going down after turn out- they usually do but not this time. I have again today searched for a cut but again see nothing!
He was turned out as usual and got him in at about 2- still swollen but sound so I rode him round the roads for half hour and today it was significantly better after exercise.

Wondering if i might keep him in tomorrow out of the mud and maybe poultice the area to see if anything at all by lunch time? not really wanting to get the vet or even antibiotics just yet but will do soon if no improvement.

Thanks for your replies. Will let you know!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Cellulitis was my thought, hope not!
This leg isn't going down after turn out- they usually do but not this time. I have again today searched for a cut but again see nothing!
He was turned out as usual and got him in at about 2- still swollen but sound so I rode him round the roads for half hour and today it was significantly better after exercise.

Wondering if i might keep him in tomorrow out of the mud and maybe poultice the area to see if anything at all by lunch time? not really wanting to get the vet or even antibiotics just yet but will do soon if no improvement.

Thanks for your replies. Will let you know!

If there is the faintest chance that this could be cellulitis, please do get the vet asap.
I lost a beautiful 11 yr old ID to septicaemia following cellulitis in the summer. She had seen the vet twice (first was emergency vet on Sunday evening, as soon as we noticed the swelling) and was on the second course of abs. She seemed to be beginning to recover when she suddenly took a turn for the worse.
Don't delay!

 

[Nocturnal]

If the leg doesn't go down after turn out I'd get the vet. If you press down on the affected area does the skin stay depressed slightly? If so, that's probably cellulitis.

 

[samuelhorse]

My lad has recently been the same, fat back leg - vet came out, diagnosed celluliltis and got some antibiotics....
His was swollen up to his hock, more so than his normal sweeling overnight, went down a litttle with exercise. Eventually found a tiny scab which the bacteria must have entered...

 

[cellie]

My tb mare had this 2 years ago ,I said same no nicks or cuts but after couple of weeks found tiniest little nick where she had brushed her back legs a fetlock boot has stopped any more injuries.Smallest bit of mud kept reinfecting the cut and then she would knock scab off.Have look for nick around fetlock on inside where he could brush.Like urs it was swollen in morning and had gone down after turnout.

I forgot to add we treated for cellulitis too,it became infected and until we found wound kept reinfecting.

 

[Cobber]

If it is cellulitis (which it sounds like it is) it is an infection and as such needs antibiotics as it won't go away on its own. It can get worse if left too so don't take too long in calling the vet if it hasn't significantly improved.

 

[peaceandquiet1]

We had a pony who developed one swollen hindleg which was diagnosed as pastern vasculitis, which was to do with a reaction to a virus, aggravated by her flu booster. I have also seen mud fever present as a swollen leg with no skin breakdown. Both cases needed antibiotics. The vet is the only answer. You need a diagnosis.

 

[Marydoll]

It does sound like a cellulitis or lymphangitis, either way sounds like your horse needs to see the vet