Horse swollen in both hind legs

[sammiero]

Hi! My horse have suddenly got two swollen hind legs. Yesterday it was only the right hind leg. But today both hind legs are swollen. He does not seem to be in any pain or have any fever, but I am a little bit worried because the swelling does not go down after exercise. I just walked him for 40 minutes and there was no change in the swelling. He got injected a week ago with cortisone due to a lameness issue and is therefore standing in a small paddock and only getting a 40 minutes walking session a day. I expect him to be a little bit swollen in his legs since he is supposed to rest and not walk as much as usual, but I thought it would go down with exercise. I feel I can rule out laminitis and cellulitis since he doesn't have a fever or seems to be in any pain. I can also rule out tendon injury since he's been standing still and have not been exercised for a long period. Would highly appreciate it if anyone got any ideas!

 

[Tiddlypom]

Yes, I have an idea.

Call your vet.

 

[sammiero]

Yes, I have an idea.

Call your vet.

Oh what a great idea, too bad I already have done that

 

[ycbm]

What did they say?
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[sammiero]

What did they say?
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Wait and see a few days, and watch out that his general condition don't worsens.



There is no crisis because the horse is well, eats well, moves well and has no fever. But I was just wondering if anyone had encountered this before.

 

[bonny]

The answer to two swollen back legs is more exercise

 

[sammiero]

The answer to two swollen back legs is more exercise

I agree, but he is on a strict training plan and is not allowed to walk more than 40 minutes a day. I also feel that the swelling should have went down after going for 40 consecutive minutes

 

[bonny]

I agree, but he is on a strict training plan and is not allowed to walk more than 40 minutes a day. I also feel that the swelling should have went down after going for 40 consecutive minutes

You may have to decide what the lesser of two evils is in that case. If it was my horse I would want to get the swelling down.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Why is your vet wanting him to stand around not doing much after a joint injection?

To be honest I would get the horse moving before simple filled legs turns into cellulitis or lymphangitis!

If you can't ride/hack/horse walker him I would punt him out in the field with his mates 24/7 or for as long as possible every day to be able to move.

When the racehorses get joints medicated they go on the horse walker for 15mins the next day as well as field turnout then trot for 2 days before light cantering returning to full work 6/7 days after the procedure.

 

[sammiero]

Why is your vet wanting him to stand around not doing much after a joint injection?

To be honest I would get the horse moving before simple filled legs turns into cellulitis or lymphangitis!

If you can't ride/hack/horse walker him I would punt him out in the field with his mates 24/7 or for as long as possible every day to be able to move.

When the racehorses get joints medicated they go on the horse walker for 15mins the next day as well as field turnout then trot for 2 days before light cantering returning to full work 6/7 days after the procedure.

I do not know why the different industries operate with such different approaches after a joint injection. It's quite interesting actually! In racing and harness racing the horses seem to always go back to work quick. But in dressage and showjumping (that I do) the horses is always is put back to work in a much slower pace.

It's standard practice that the horse rests for a week or two after a joint injection, at least here where I live. And after resting the horse you need to follow a training plan consisting of only trotting straight lines before the horse can go back to full work. And that is not only my vets opinion, but all of them.

I think I will try to walk him some more. If I turn him out in the field he will run, and that's the last thing he can do after a joint injection. Thanks!

 

[ycbm]

Are you in the UK? In this country I have not heard of different industries having different approaches to joint injections. What ELF has described is what I have seen, and experienced, for all horses. The horse I had done was not box rested or given small pen turnout at all.
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[sammiero]

Are you in the UK? In this country I have not heard of different industries having different approaches to joint injections. What ELF has described is what I have seen, and experienced, for all horses. The horse I had done was not box rested or given small pen turnout at all.
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I do not live in the UK

 

[usaequestrian]

I’m in the U.S.
I had the vet inject my horse with corteazone, I didn’t ride her for 2 days, but she was hand walked and groomed. On day three we went back to light hacking and tiny jumps.

 

[ycbm]

I do not live in the UK

OK, well then the treatment you have been advised is not at all normal in the UK. As ELF says you are probably risking lymphangitis or cellulitis which could kill the horse. I'm sorry to sound so dramatic, but if it was my horse I'd be turning it out and that's also what my vets would be advising.

You clearly aren't happy about it yourself or you wouldn't have posted on here after talking to your vet. I don't know if you are able to go against the ruling advice there, but it would seem sensible if you can.
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[sammiero]

OK, well then the treatment you have been advised is not at all normal in the UK. As ELF says you are probably risking lymphangitis or cellulitis which could kill the horse. I'm sorry to sound so dramatic, but if it was my horse I'd be turning it out and that's also what my vets would be advising.

You clearly aren't happy about it yourself or you wouldn't have posted on here after talking to your vet. I don't know if you are able to go against the ruling advice there, but it would seem sensible if you can.
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Quite different from country to country then. In Scandinavia, the treatment I have explained is the usual. We have different treatment plans depending on where the horse is injected of course. "My" treatment plan applies to injections in high-motion joints. For example injections in the neck do not require that much rest and a small paddock.

The purpose of the post was to hear if anyone had suggestions for things that can cause swollen hind legs. Posted mostly out of curiosity, not because I'm concerned. I trust my vet and know my horse is well taken care of

 

[sammiero]

I’m in the U.S.
I had the vet inject my horse with corteazone, I didn’t ride her for 2 days, but she was hand walked and groomed. On day three we went back to light hacking and tiny jumps.

I find it fascinating that it is so different treatment plans from country to country! I sincerely wonder why your horses come back to work so fast, while ours is required a much longer rest period. I have never heard of a horse in my country jumping on day 3 after an injection in a high-motion joint. We are told that too much movement and uncontrolled movement is not good if we want the treatment to work as well as possible

 

[Melody Grey]

If turnout isn’t an option for whatever reason, I’d up the walking and do it in several sessions. I’d rather walk a horse for 3x15mins than 45 mins in one go, I think it would be more beneficial.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I find it fascinating that it is so different treatment plans from country to country! I sincerely wonder why your horses come back to work so fast, while ours is required a much longer rest period. I have never heard of a horse in my country jumping on day 3 after an injection in a high-motion joint. We are told that too much movement and uncontrolled movement is not good if we want the treatment to work as well as possible

I also find it interesting how different places deal with the same stuff we do. I am basing our workings on the medication we use which has a 21 day withdrawal period so we can get back to racing quickly. We do not use any other joint medication with longer W/D times because we don't have the time to wait. So maybe your using a stronger medication that does require restricted movement?

 

[usaequestrian]

I find it fascinating that it is so different treatment plans from country to country! I sincerely wonder why your horses come back to work so fast, while ours is required a much longer rest period. I have never heard of a horse in my country jumping on day 3 after an injection in a high-motion joint. We are told that too much movement and uncontrolled movement is not good if we want the treatment to work as well as possible

I was given that instruction because otherwise if my horse was stuck in her stall she would become stiff and achy. Of course I wasn't jumping her intensively/high, we just schooled over jumps that were 2'