filled, warm hind legs...WWYD?

[[59668]]

9yo mare has come in from the field with 2 filled, warm hind legs. I thought the left hind was looking a little puffy yesterday pm, but now both are. I lunged gently for 10 mins and she is sound, but the filling didn't really go down much. She is happy in herself. Could it just be caused by a flush of grass with this wet, warm weather? Or should I be more worried and get the vet out. Annoyingly this would happen on a Friday.....

Mare is also extremely nervous of vets and very needleshy which makes me loathed to get out a vet unless I really need to.

WWYD?

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Any other signs of illness? Temperature okay?

Any sign of skin infection on the legs?

 

[milliepops]

hmmmm coming in from the field where the movement should have taken filling down would make me a bit suspicious that there was something causing it that needed attention. can you have a chat with vet on the phone?

 

[[59668]]

temp normal, bright and willing to trot on the lunge, no lameness or heat in her feet. Legs look ok other than puffy.

I have heard of flushes of grass causing filled legs which is why I was wondering if it could be that.

Yeah I think I might call the vet and have a chat.

 

[charlotte0916]

My mare had pretty much the same symptoms a few months ago and it turned out to be cellulitis. She was a little puffy in the morning, turned out for a couple of hours, swelling was still the same and legs warm. By the afternoon she had a slight temp so called the vet and it was cellulitis from a teeny tiny nick (like a paper cut) that had happened the night before I assume and the wet conditions meant bacteria got up in there really quickly. She had a course of antibiotics plus some bite for a couple of days as an anti inflammatory and was right as rain in a few days.

 

[[59668]]

Was that both hinds though? That is the odd thing with this.

Spoke to the vet and she said as long as she is sound and bright, then continue cold hosing and walking and just monitor it.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Keep taking temperature at least 3 x daily till swelling gone down, as a precaution. Any spike and get vet on speed dial.

 

[charlotte0916]

Yep, it was both hinds. I thought originally that it must just be swelling from being stood in because it was affecting both rather than one. Apparently if the infection spreads a little then both will swell up. Mine didn’t have the typical ‘pitted’ look of cellulitis either, just swollen and a bit warm. She warmed up pretty quickly after cold hosing each time too. Of course it may not be what you have going on but thought it would be worth mentioning as I was pretty stumped by the symptoms originally. Echo what the fuzzy furry said and keep an eye on her temp throughout the day and do ring the vet if there’s any increase.

I

Was that both hinds though? That is the odd thing with this.

Spoke to the vet and she said as long as she is sound and bright, then continue cold hosing and walking and just monitor it.

 

[Skips11]

Cellulitis can affect both hinds, I would look for the tiniest of nicks as that's how my mares recent case of cellulitis started. 3 weeks on and on top of it now but it's still lingering. Very horrible thing to manage so hopefully it's not!
I would send some pictures to your vet and monitor really closely. Keep an eye out for the smallest bit of horrible looking serum/moisture coming from any part of either leg.
My vet said he's seen an influx of cellulitis cases recently with no real explanation other than perhaps the very hot then very wet weather meaning they aren't moving about very much.

 

[Sossigpoker]

A needle shy horse can be managed, the vet might prescribe oral medication or give an oral sedative before injection. Swollen limbs that don't go down with exercise warrant at least a conversation with the vet.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Do be cautious with possible cellulitis! I lost a lovely IDx 11 yr old mare to it, even though she had seen the vet 3 times and had 2x anti-biotics. I would definitely monitor the temp and call the vet for any sign of an increase.