Cellulitis swelling - any experience?

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Rattie

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My mare suffered acute cellulitis at the end of last year which has left her leg with lots of swelling. Movement/exercise does bring it down and she is sound on it, so it hasn't turned to scar tissue but the worry is that it may, as she now is on box/pen rest due to a ligament and tendon injury so can't move the fluid naturally.

Is there any way I can help keep the swelling down? Boots, supplements, anything??

Here's a pic incase it helps......

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I had the same myself last year and needed two lots of anti biotics .I used a product from natural horse of ebay that helps swelling cant tell if it worked on its own or problem was solved with ab but worth a try its called clivers.Exactly same area of swelling originally although ours moved up the leg to hock as she was kicked earlier in year.I kept mine walking out on firm ground which with vets permission would help strengthen tendon.My vet doesnt agree with box rest but they all vary with opinions.good luck
 
Hi cellie

She is on Clivers although don't think they have made any difference, she has been on them for about 6 weeks now but will keep adding them to her feed as can't do any harm.

I did really argue for her not to be on box rest because of this and got a second opinion, but my girl doesn't do things by halves! She has damaged her check ligament about as bad as she can although her deep flexor tendon isn't so bad and they told me she may end up unrideable if she wasn't fully rested.
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2 of my mares got it end of last year vet gave me some smelly cream to rub all over their legs and in a couple of days all swellings gone and back out in the field, only prob cant remember the name of the cream, but will look and see if i can find it
 
Where i worked last year there was a stallion who got this, the whole way up the leg, he also had scabby bits, i put flamazine on the scabs and had both legs bandaged overnight, i think he went on antibiotics when it was really bad.
 
Oh what a nightmare.I have just retired 8 year old tb as he was walking disaster area same things tendon ligaments spavins etc.The new mare is one with cellulitis .Such a shame as they need different healing process.I used to put my gelding out in paddock with electric fencing and link 6 stable size paddocks together maybe that would be a option for your mare .It does keep them sane having restricted turnout..
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Magnetic boots are really good for swelling like this and also help with the healing on your damaged tendons as it helps with circulation. Hawthorn is also good for circulation and you can strip it out of your hedges.. (Just make sure that is all that is in your hedges though) and it is good for a change from hay when being box rested!.

Equimagnets do pretty good value for money magnetic wraps that you can put over knees and hocks as well as canon, so they are of multiuse in the future. You can buy them in pairs so you can treat both the legs at the same time (I assume the tendon injury is on a diff leg?)

My mare tore her check and deep digital two years ago and I alternated her with the magnets and ice packs as well as physio. has your vet discussed referring to physio for the tendons? They can be a little sceptical about physio's but I think mine worked wonders for my mare and she would never have come back into work without it imo! Good luck
 
Have a TB mare who suffers from this. Have given antibiotics when necessary, but find her legs can still fill if left in for long periods, but as the fields have been so wet this summer which doesnt help her either she has spent quite a bit of time in!
We use Equichap stable boots, or Thematex leg wraps on her if she is in overnight, or standing in all day, these really seem to help the circulation.
Also started her on Clivers about 6 weeks ago, werent sure if they were helping, but this week she has been in quite alot (night and day due to the weather) and hasnt had leg wraps on, her legs havent swelled at all! She is in full work and is always exercised if staying in though.
 
is this the first time she's had cellulitis? The best treatment, once the infection is resolved, is equine manual lymph drainage. Cellulitis is one of the infections that can damage the delicate lymphatic vessels, leading in vulnerable horses to lymphoedema. MLD is particularly important at the moment because of the horse being on enforced bed rest, as it will support the lymphatic flow, but it also helps removal of the protein molecules and waste products that no longer get removed efficiently in legs damaged by cellulitis or lymphangitis and lead to the fibrosis and hardening of tissues. Don't use stable bandages unless your vet says they're really necessary as recent research has shown that these also block lymphatic flow and may be a cause of horses on box rest going on to develop filled legs. Also be careful of massage machines etc, which stimulate lymphatic action, this is OK when the lymphatics are healthy, but when they are not, and a swollen leg after such an infection indicates this, they will be 'stimulating' the lymphatic system by giving it even more work to do, which could further damage the vessels.
 
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