Petrie
Well-Known Member
Thought I would share this with you, incase anyone else experienced it.
Both my horses are living out at grass 24/7 at the moment, one of them started to get filled legs about 5 days ago. It started with his left fore and left hind, then all four puffed up. They were a little hot, but not alarmingly so, and he was perfectly sound and after a hack, they went down.
I couldn't work it out at all as it's something you might normally see in stabled horses, especially if they're being fed lots of concentrates. But mine was living out - and has been since April, on the same field - eating grass and half a scoop of pasture nuts!
I called the vet to run it past him over the phone, and he said there are two reasons why horses might get filled legs out in the field.
1) A viral infection (in my case, there were no signs of this)
2) A protein reaction to something he's eaten.
He asked if he has access to a hedgerow, which he does. He said he has most likely eaten something in the hedgerow that he's reacted to.
Apparently, it's very common at this time of year, they have no idea what plant it is, but it's normally gone by the end of August. He treats one horse who's head swells up every August!
So, I fenced off the hedgerow, and sure enough, next day, legs back to normal.
Just thought I'd share it with you!
Both my horses are living out at grass 24/7 at the moment, one of them started to get filled legs about 5 days ago. It started with his left fore and left hind, then all four puffed up. They were a little hot, but not alarmingly so, and he was perfectly sound and after a hack, they went down.
I couldn't work it out at all as it's something you might normally see in stabled horses, especially if they're being fed lots of concentrates. But mine was living out - and has been since April, on the same field - eating grass and half a scoop of pasture nuts!
I called the vet to run it past him over the phone, and he said there are two reasons why horses might get filled legs out in the field.
1) A viral infection (in my case, there were no signs of this)
2) A protein reaction to something he's eaten.
He asked if he has access to a hedgerow, which he does. He said he has most likely eaten something in the hedgerow that he's reacted to.
Apparently, it's very common at this time of year, they have no idea what plant it is, but it's normally gone by the end of August. He treats one horse who's head swells up every August!
So, I fenced off the hedgerow, and sure enough, next day, legs back to normal.
Just thought I'd share it with you!
