Equine Lymphoedema Complex (also in vet)

[4faults]

Does anyone have any experience of this? My mare has come down with the acute version today, her back leg is very swollen, she is in pain and has a raised temperature.

Vets has her on antibiotics and bute, im hoping this does the job but I have no experience of it at all and im really hoping she will recover completely but looking at info on the internet is making me depressed I am really worried about her

any experience appreciated

 

[BrynThePony]

Hi
My old boy came down with the same on xmas day (just got the bill !!!) He's had it a couple of times before and has made a full recovery. It looks as though your vet has given very similar treatment to mine so, fingers crossed, your horse should be fine.
I also massage the leg to try and move the fluid back into the system - otherwise it settles in the next lowest point (his sheath and I ain't too keen on massaging that although he seems to like it !!!)

Hope everything goes ok

 

[4faults]

Thank you so much, really helps to know someone elses horse has come through it fine. Just felt so sorry for her she looked so ill when I got down but seemed brighter after i gave her a pamper.

Vet has said to let antibiotics do there job and then do some massaging.

Thank you again

 

[Nothing Original]

My old lad had this a few years ago now. Came in not quite right, wouldn't eat, vet called, his leg became red hot & sweating, swollen and he could hardly walk within half hour of coming in. Vet had to practically lift him out of the stable. It was very scarey but my vet did the same as yours has done.

From memory (it was quite a few years ago) I had to cold hose and massage.

He did recover fully - I don't remeber how long it took but wasn't longer that a week or two I think.

I did find after this he couldn't have things like cooked flaked barley or anything high protein as he seemed to get filled legs. I don't know if this was just because of his age or if the lymphangitus (sp) caused it and won't ever know tbh.

The other thing I found afterwards was that if I put boots or bandages on his legs would react by swelling after and again I always attributed this to the problem although I do not know for sure that it was. I always thought it was because I was restricting the lymphatic system by booting/bandaging to any extent (although he could wear stable socks for his arthritus with no problems). I would say it never affected him in his ridden work though.

My boy was in his late teens when it happened and did have other health issues too and whilst we don't know for sure, my vet said it could of been caused by something as insignificant as a scratch from a thorn or the like.

I hope your mare makes a full recovery.

 

[hpowell]

Hi, equine lymphoedema complex is a term to describe a number of conditions in the horse which closely resemble or are identical to lymphoedema in people, and which are currently being researched, so their definitions may change with the results of this. It sounds as though your horse has lymphangitis, and hopefully the drugs prescribed by your vet will bring it under control, however there is the possibility that there will be damage to the lymphatic vessels, which may result in residual swelling, or vulnerability to further attacks in future. It is important to not restrict movement of horses which have had lymphatic problems, e.g. keeping in, and to avoid bandaging, which impedes the lymphatic flow and can cause further damage. If there is residual swelling, this is lymphoedema, and is treated with combined decongestive therapy, which has been practiced for decades on people and adapted fairly recently for equine use.