Fat leg, suggestions??

[montysmum1]

As title really...

Horse has a swollen right hind, up to just below hock, first noticed yesterday morning, went down with turn out, came back up over night.

No heat, no cuts/lumps/bumps or obvious injury (horse is Tb so not too much hair to see/feel through), not really lame, just stiff for first few steps out of box. Not shod (hasn't been for 7+years) and no issues with feet. No high protein in diet, just on Alfa a and sugar beet with micronized linseed, magnesium oxide and brewers yeast, ad lib hay. Good doer, but neither over/under weight.

Any suggestions? He's 21yrs old and retired, could it be arthritis beginning? What do you think?

 

[mightymammoth]

sounds like arthritic changes, is 24/7 turnout an option?

 

[montysmum1]

From a yard rules point of view, not until the end of March, the fields are ruined with all the rain/flooding we've had, and turn out currently varies from all day, to 1-2hrs twice a day.

He's never been a fan of 24/7 turn out either and has been known to trash/jump a gate to bring himself in if he feels it is required. He likes going out, but likes coming into sleep in his stable too.