Filled legs from grass

[charlie76]

Has anyone had any issues with spring grass and filled legs? This is the first spring I have had my horse and he changed fields a couple of weeks ago. He has had very filled legs since Sunday and is feeling a bit lethargic. He isn't lame and he is still eating ect.
Not something I have come across before.
They don't go down when he is turned out or worked.
He is a horse that reacts to things and often has grass glands.

 

[Trot_On_Dressage]

I never heard of horses getting filled legs from spring grass, I suppose lymphangitis can be caused from overload of carbs.

I'd have a chat with vet

 

[Ibblebibble]

my big girl gets filled legs if she is put in a lush field, she will just stand and stuff her face and move as little as possible but they always go down with exercise i would be concerned if they didn't go down and probably phone vet for a chat

 

[martlin]

If the legs don't go down with exercise, I would be ringing the vet - lymphangitis can come from literally nowhere, and sometimes it can affect any number of limbs. I would be wanting to shift the swelling asap, especially if also lethargic/not quite himself.

 

[colouredhat]

I've had this twice now, with two different horses, both times when they have been moved to a new field (recently rested) and they've just stood still and munched all day, the always went down after exercise and neither horse was lame. It happened once or twice each then resolved.
Agree with others, if your horse becomes lame or swelling doesnt go down ask a vet!

 

[cyberhorse]

I have seen this before but as others have said it went straight down after about 10min of exercise. I think if it is not going down then a call to the vet is wise. The worst mine had coming in from the field was a swollen head and neck. He had a steriod shot for it which took it down within 10min (thought to be a nettle allergy though). Probably too early in the year for a big nettle patch, but nettles on a sensitive horse will cause swellings which don't go down with exercise and can be pretty alarming.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Has anyone had any issues with spring grass and filled legs? This is the first spring I have had my horse and he changed fields a couple of weeks ago. He has had very filled legs since Sunday and is feeling a bit lethargic. He isn't lame and he is still eating ect.
Not something I have come across before.
They don't go down when he is turned out or worked.
He is a horse that reacts to things and often has grass glands.

My chestnut mare had this. She was moved to new grazing one April and the next day she looked like she had elephant legs. They were swelled right up to the hocks/knees. The Vet said that it was due to too much protien in the grass. She had to come off the grass, infact she was stabled overnight and had her grass intake really restricted for about a month. After three days the swelling had gone - but she had to come off the grass.

 

[ThePony]

Same as the others, older mare gets filled legs when the grass gets going. Spoke to the vet about it when it was really bad and he said as long as it went down with movement then not to worry. If you lead them round for a few mins and there is no change (or heat/gets worse/lameness) then it is a vet job.