Cellulitis Swelling...Help please!

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My 3 year old was diagnosed with Cellulitis in her near side hind about a month ago? Her leg looked broken...She wasn't wait bearing much and it was swollen from fetlock to hock. It was red hot. She ended up lying down and wouldn't get up, she had a high temperature. We got the vet and she was diagnosed with cellulitis though there wasn't really anything to cause it.

She had antibiotics, bute, she was bandaged and had her leg cold hosed and had this ice stuff put on. It did improve a heck of a lot and she is sound on it but not all the swelling has gone. She has some swelling on the outside of the leg that runs from fetlock to hock. Its cold and usually firmish. It Dosnt really go down much turnout/exercise or bandaging. It's not horrendous but I know it's there and will affect her value.

I was wondering if there was anything I could do to get rid of the swelling or if anybody has had similar experiences?

Help and advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks! X
 
Cleavers and Marigold from Hilton Herbs is a good way of getting her lymphatic system moving, I have used it in similar situations and it really helped.
Often once they can go back to 24/7 turnout in the spring the swelling will go finally and if you are careful next winter it should not come back.
 
be positive said:
Cleavers and Marigold from Hilton Herbs is a good way of getting her lymphatic system moving, I have used it in similar situations and it really helped.
Often once they can go back to 24/7 turnout in the spring the swelling will go finally and if you are careful next winter it should not come back.
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Thanks! Will definitely have a look into that, need to try and sort it out, she should be in the show ring :) xx
 
How horrid for my mare got this and it is so painful for them they just look pitiful :( magnetic boots may help as well as the suggestion above. I put my mare on as much turnout as possible which really helped her. Luckily no long lasting effects.
 
A mare I owned had it and although we couldnt find anything for long while I eventually found smallest cut in fetlock area that kept getting reinfected from mud and bacteria.Could be as simple a putting fetlock boots on treating legs with muddy marvel to repel dirt and medication (anti biotics from vet).I also used cleavers and found turnout helped. :)
 
Cellulitis is a frightening thing to see in horses, it really does look as if they have broken their leg sometimes! My mare dragged her leg along on the toe with no movement at all when she had it, and I honestly believed that that was the end for her. The swelling can take a long time to subside, but it does usually completely clear up given time, and gentle increased exercise at in hand walk on hard surfaces. I literally started with a few paces walk, then back to stable, increasing by a few more paces, then eventually walks in hand up the road. My girl's leg took about three weeks to go completely down and for her to be able to bend it fully - it looked like a tree trunk all the way down from near the stifle to the coronet band at one point.

I think it all depends on each horse, but most I have known that have had it do make a full recovery provided they have been given prompt treatment, appropriate recovery, and the infection causing it hasn't affected any joint.
 
putasocinit said:
Keep bndaging esp when stabled.
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Mine had that. He went down the vet route but now I always wipe his ( dry and groomed ) legs with a diluted dettol wash after work. That way I don't miss anything. I ended up clipping his legs early ( like to do it for the last clip) but he reacts badly to very small cuts so doing everything I can to ensure I don't miss anything. He has stable wraps on at night and boots in the field. Would prefer less but have had a lot of days off here and there and this regime stops it from happening
 
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