can oedemas cause lameness?

digitalangel

digitalangel

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Just a curiosity really

my gelding has always suffered with filled legs. However a month ago he became ill with a sheath infection, which progressed to a ventral oedema ( swelling in abdomen ) and one pastern was more filled than usual. The swelling in the pastern always dsisappeared when he was turned out.

He came off the bute a week ago, the ventral oedema has resolved, and the shealth swelling stabilised. the vet recommended exercise, which we began today.

Upon exercise today he is lame on this left hind leg - which worsened on exercise. The swelling did not go down, despite cold hosing.

Some suggested to me that because the oedema has been around for a few weeks he is lame because he has less flexion in that joint because of the swlling and once the swelling had gone for good that there would prove to be no uinderlying problem. Is this even possible?

Im really worried that somehow he has hurt himself while turned out and the bute he was on for his sheath masked any lameness. He wasnt lame until today, which is 6 days of no bute.

Im in a bit of a chicken/egg situation here because he needs to be exercised to get the swelling down in his sheath, yet is noticably lame on that leg and it worsens with exercise.

Im playing it safe, keeping him in, cold hosing and will apply bandaging, until the vet comes on monday, but im hoping that doesnt make his sheath worse!

I would love to hear anyone elses experiences with filled legs/lameness/oedema.

Thanks in advance!!!

xx
 
Swelling causes pressure which can cause lameness. Imagine you have damaged your foot in some way and it's slightly swollen - you can't walk properly either.
I wouldn't be at all happy though - swelling is a symptom and not a cause, so there is likely something not right. Swelling tends to go down with exercise and as such lameness caused by swelling should go as well... I think you are right to be getting a vet and waiting until then. Good luck!
 
thanks so much
smile.gif
i still cant find anything that relates to this kind of swelling at all ( doesnt match any tendon stuff ive looked up, or ringbone ) so still no idea what hes done! It looks like swelling from mud fever but he has *no* signs of it at all!
 
Is the swelling in his sheath painful? It could be that he's going short on a hind leg because of pain in his groin area- my friend's horse did this when he had a schirrous cord.
 
The swelling could be a poor lymphatic return.

You could give some herbs that will help.

I use Hilton Herbs "Clevers and Marigold" which helps the lymphatic system

It is the bodies way of protecting its self.
 
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