Cellulitis/Lymphangitis vs normal filled legs?

[atropa]

Hi all, just looking for opinions and experiences of other members here whilst I'm waiting for the vet to come visit tomorrow regarding this issue.

I've had my mare for 5 months now so am still working out what is normal for her. Previous to buying her she had a serious accident approximately 4 years agowith getting caught in a field fence and damaging her hind legs, this resulted in quite bad scarring. One leg is worse than the other, the scars are raised and I have found them prone to swelling in wet conditions (which unfortunately we are having a lot of atm!), and this leg is usually slightly thicker than the other due to scar tissue and ligament thickening. All this was picked up at her 5 stage vetting, vet was happy that it shouldn't cause any further problems and she was completely sound on the leg.

However, I have found this leg very prone to swelling when she is kept in on particularly stormy days, the swelling doesn't extend up past her cannon/hock, there is sometimes some very slight heat in it but she is never lame and the swelling goes away with exercise or turnout. I was just wondering if there's anyone who has found that their horses legs are prone to filling more quickly after recovery from these types of injuries, or if I should be worrying that it's something more serious e.g. cellulitis (she had a bout of mud fever on same leg a couple of months ago which has now cleared). Is there anything I can do to help prevent the leg from filling? I have stable wraps which I use overnight but I obviously can't leave these on 24/7 on the few days that she has to be kept in.

 

[FinkleyAlex]

If its happening after being stabled then I'd be inclined to think it's just filled legs, especially if it goes away. My golden oldie has similar scarring from an operation on his knee, and has just had his first ever bout of cellulitis. He went from generally a bit stiff (he has arthritis, treated with bute) to crippled overnight, his knee was swollen to hell and he was very sore. He's now improving on antibiotics but it seems to take quite a while to recover from, we are on day 5 and still swollen but far less sore. I think cellulitis in general is pretty painful whereas filled legs aren't. I would try and find somewhere where she doesn't have to be kept in when there's bad weather, but other than that filled legs are more an aesthetic problem than medical.

 

[Pinkvboots]

agree with above it could be just over night swelling one of my horses will get puffy back legs if left in too long, but as soon as he goes out or is ridden they go down, if the legs are staying puffy after exercise it could be something else, bandaging the legs can help with fleece bandages and pads but you need to know how to put them on evenly and not too tight or they can do more damage than good.

I think that because your horse has had an injury to that leg and has scarring it won't help to get the vet out just to make sure there is nothing else causing the swelling.

 

[JDH01]

Hi, I had a horse who was prone to both filled legs and lymphangitis. When he had the latter it was filled all the way, hot and so sore, walking in hand x3 per day with bute if necessary

 

[atropa]

Thank you so much for the reassurance all,my common sense head was telling me just normal swelling in a leg that possibly now has reduced circulation but I am definitely a worrier when it comes to her. I have the vet coming tomorrow just in case but I feel so much better now.

 

[Starzaan]

Sounds like they're just filling when stabled and nothing more sinister.

Cellulitis is very painful, and lymphangitis presents with a pitting oedema - if you poke it you will leave a fingerprint.

As mentioned above, bandaging while stabled can help but only if you know what you're doing. Bandages can do far more harm than good when they aren't put on properly.

Good luck!

 

[peaceandquiet1]

If it goes away and not hot and painful then probably just filled leg as others have said.

 

[muddy_grey]

My friends horse had lymphangitis and the whole leg was swollen and hot. Once she recovered she was prone to filled legs. My friend used magnetic boots in the stable which really helped so might be worth a try as long as there are no open wounds.
Also I had a horse with bad scaring on one leg and found using cream on the scar tissue kept it soft otherwise he used to catch it in the field and make it bleed.

 

[ossy]

My horse had lymphangitis in the past and is now prone to leg filling, it's sometimes worse than normal for no apparent reason. I bandage while in stable and feed a cleavers and marigold supplement that really helps

 

[atropa]

Thank you all so much, vet was out this morning and agreed that it was just filled leg...cellulitis is a hot topic in my neck of the woods atm so think I panicked a bit!

My friends horse had lymphangitis and the whole leg was swollen and hot. Once she recovered she was prone to filled legs. My friend used magnetic boots in the stable which really helped so might be worth a try as long as there are no open wounds.
Also I had a horse with bad scaring on one leg and found using cream on the scar tissue kept it soft otherwise he used to catch it in the field and make it bleed.

Thanks Muddygrey, I had thought about the magnetic boots, might have to invest in a pair. She doesn't seem prone to catching the scarring (although she is a clumsy twit with her legs) but I'll also consider putting cream on them as sometimes they do seem to react to the wet weather.


Ossy I will also look into the cleavers and marigold, thank you!

 

[FabioandFreddy]

If you put your thumb into the swelling and the imprint stays longer than is normal (pitting odema) then thats a pretty sure indicator its cellulitis. Unfortunately have more experience with it than i would like!

 

[Annagain]

The horse in the stable next door has suffered the two "itises" in the past (he's prone to mud fever and has a compromised immune system due to previous neglect) and regularly has filled legs. Believe me, you'll know the difference. He was hopping lame with both the cellulitis and lymphangitis and very off colour as opposed to being totally normal just with elephant legs as he often is. We watched the cellulitis spread in front of our eyes as we waited for the vet and walking (or rather hobbling) seemed to make it worse.

 

[peaceandquiet1]

Great news

 

[atropa]

Thank you again everyone, I'll know to look out for more extreme swelling, pitting and pain as warning signs. In the meantime I've ordered some clivers to add to her feed to see if that makes any difference, and will probably buy a set of magnetic boots too at some point.