Filled Legs

[watterh]

Can you help? A friends horse has had filled legs now for over a week. No heat in legs but swollen all the way down the cannon bone. My trainer saw legs on saturday as i was taking off bandages (looking after horse this weekend) and said that bandages were far too tight and the weeping along splint bone was a pressure sore. Sooo ... what to do? I left bandages off and legs have really filled. What do you guys think?

 

[carthorse]

Bran mash with epsom salts in, no heating food.Call vet if you think it is lymphangitis as he may need antibiotics.Turn out as much as possible

 

[watterh]

Thanks Carthorse. Horse is on resricted turn out at the moment. Have told owner and vet should be coming tomorrow. In the meantime would you bandage or not? My own feeling is that bandages could have been too tight as she had used the elasticated sort which are so easy to overtighten i have some fleece bandages wondered about putting those on.

 

[Llwyncwn]

Have the legs swollen so much that the skin has split with the pressure? Is the restricted turnout due to an injury? I would be getting the vet out.

 

[watterh]

Restricted turnout was due in part weight control part worry as the swelling apparently started in small area on tendon. Not sure as the first i saw was when i took bandages down on saturday. I don't think it is because they have swollen in the extreme so that the skin split. My pony had worse swelling from an infected cut when she was kicked. Its just a worry when its someone elses horse.

 

[Llwyncwn]

Huge responsibility when its someone elses horse! Can you give the vet a ring and ask their advice re bandaging? Has the vet been treating the horse for this? If so, they will be able to advise. Hope it all turns out ok for you and ponio.

 

[watterh]

yes vet out tomorrow and owner home too! I was just baffled by the amount of swelling and no heat..

 

[hadfos]

Did said horse go from being turned out to coming in for long lengths of time???my boys legs used to after he had been turned out 24/7 threw the summer and then came in at night threw the winter,this went on for the 1st week,after this they were fine!!Does the swelling go down after turnout??would definately get vet out but that type of wound can be caused by overtight bandaging,especially if legs filling with bandages on,let us know how you get on!!!

 

[hadfos]

Personally i would leave bandaging until you have spoken to the vet!!