Fluid on the knee?

[OFG]

I wouldn't normally post something like this but wondered if anyone had experience of it.

My 15.2 TBX is 36 and retired as of Feb this year (although do still take him for walks in hand every couple of weeks for a bit of a change).

He's gotten quite hairy, especially around the legs and I hadn't really noticed his knees until the other night.

His right one looks larger than his left. When I went to touch it he pulled away but not sure if because he's in discomfort or just because he's figity. There's no heat but knee definately feels like there is fluid over the knee cap as feels spongy.

He does suffer from stiff joints but is still fairly mobile and still bombs around the field with the other 2 (much to my horror as he does have a tendancy to trip over his own feet nowadays )

He's not showing any signs of lameness.

Has anyone else got an oldie with excess fluid on the joints?

Vet is coming out to do a full MOT but not until January but am considering calling them out sooner.

 

[Maesfen]

Could he have got a thorn in it, bumped it, rolled on a stone, all of which could cause a filled knee? TBH, at his age, if the skin's not broken and if he's sound then I wouldn't do anything with it just accept it's due to his age that the skin has lost some elasticity and probably won't go back to normal after a blow like it would with a younger horse then wait for your MOT.

 

[forestfantasy]

Could he have got a thorn in it, bumped it, rolled on a stone, all of which could cause a filled knee? TBH, at his age, if the skin's not broken and if he's sound then I wouldn't do anything with it just accept it's due to his age that the skin has lost some elasticity and probably won't go back to normal after a blow like it would with a younger horse then wait for your MOT.

Agree with this ^
Also has he got enough bedding in his stable? He could have knocked it getting up from a snooze or something, resulting in a capped knee or similar?

 

[OFG]

Thanks, just good to get another opinion

I can't see any broken skin but as he's a bay with black legs it's difficult to see very well through all his fluff. Had another good prod yesterday and he was more tollerant, again still no heat.

Bedding wise, he has a good deep bed over rubber matting and even being in all night he doesn't shift the bed around to expose the floor so know he is fine in this area.

As he has started loosing his sight I think I will put it down to him walking into something. Will monitor and if no drastic change wait for vet visit early Jan to have a look.