Fat Hind Legs???

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Bex7377

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I am a little baffled by my pony?

On Wednesday evening I washed both of his white hind legs with baby shampoo and all seamed well. Then the next morning, Thursday, both legs were 'puffy' gave them a cold hose and then by the evening, they can only be discribled as 'FAT' filled from the hock to the fetlock, not massive but bigger than normal. This time I cold hosed for 20+ mins each and hibi scrubed them too to which he seamed to really enjoy??
Arrived this morning to see very clean white fat legs still?? Could this be an allergic reaction to the shampoo? He is sound with no heat at all. He lives out 24/7 all year round? On Tuesday evening we extended their field to some new grass? Other than this nothing has changed at all. I have not had a horse with white bits before and this was the first time I washed his back legs. He is 4, and If it was one leg I would guess some kind of trama or damamge? but being both, I am thinking an allergy? All ideas welcome?
 
It could be something as simple as he is not moving around as much. If he previously had to walk around a lot to graze and now he doesn't then it could just be a retention of fluid. Try walking him out/riding him and if there is no lameness see if the swelling goes down.
 
For swelling in the legs feed CLIVERS they are the sticky weeds that grow in hedgerows every where at this time of year,feed a few handfuls a day as a cleanser for the lymphatic system ,can also be bought dried in winter.
Some horses react badly to Hibiscrub.
I hope this helps.
 
Have a look under the hair, is the skin bright pink or is the hair tufting, if it is then wash with Nizoral shampoo as if your horse is developing Mudfever these are the early signs.

Another thing to consider is if you have recently wormed him with Ivermectin based wormer. It can make them photosensitive.

Has he got a strong digital pulse in each hind leg. Could be brewing an abscess. You could take his temperature to see if he has an infection
 
Thank you for all your answers! Thankfully they have gone down.....I just cold hosed am and pm and by sunday morning they are back to normal. I will natually keep and eye on them for the next few days... but I will not be using a non horsey shampoo on him again! Such a relief :)
 
My EMS pony gets swollen lower legs just as you describe when he has too much grass. Starts in the hinds and progresses to fronts unless weather changes for the worse or I take action. I use it as the first indicator that the grass is too much. Normally he gets it when we've had sunny showers or rain followed by sun.
 
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