Horse with swollen legs

Harrie123

Harrie123

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I've just been to see my neddy, and his leags are massively swollen...

He has had a couple of days off as he was shod in the rain on Friday and the farrier rekons he has gone foot sore from it. I have been resting him and putting iodine on his soles to harden the foot. The farrier came out and removed the back 2 nails to relieve the pressure, this was Monday, Tuesday he is condsiderably worse.

This morning he was OK, a bit lame in walk. I've just been down there now and 3 of his legs are really swollen (all appart form the foot sore one!) above the fetlock, you cant see any definition of his tendons at all (he is a throughbred type so is quite lean in that area). They look awful!
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Has anyone ever had this happen? Any idea's what it could be??
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He lives out so it isnt through standing around!

I have called the vet and am waiting for him to come back to me!

Chocolate Brownies for anyone who has read all that!!!
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How far up the leg does the swelling go? If it's fairly localised (ie, between fetlock and knee), I'd be inclined to think bruising - but it's unlikely he's bruised 3 legs at the same time.

If it's more widespread I'd probably be thinking infection - but again, unlikely in 3 legs at the same time.

If it's basically the whole leg (elbow to hoof) then it could well be lymphangitis - which again tends to occur in just one leg.

I think I'd be asking the vet to come out pretty quickly to be honest (I'd say "it's not life threatening but it needs seeing today"). If he's gone from no swelling but a bit lame to massively swollen in a few hours, he could be considerably worse by morning. I wouldn't be inclined to try treating it myself, although I suspect the vet will say "bute, cold hose, antibiotics".

Good luck
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My ID had this happen and vet said it was a virus. 3 of his four legs swelled for no reason, think we may have given him bute but was quite some time ago now so couldn't be 100%. It might be a red herring the fact that he has just been shod and the farrier might have transmitted something to him from another yard maybe?! Purely speculating there though
Good luck with it
 
this always happens to my thoroughbred in all 4 legs if he is not moving around or bandaged in the stable. they are puffy and iff you push on it it doesnt hurt him and goes doen if he is walked around or stable bandages.
but 3 legs is wierd unless he is bearing his weight mostly on the one leg that is unaffected.
i would try bandaging him...or getting someone else to if you dont know how and leaving him for a few hours and see if it goes down. if not call vet.
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thanks for your help guys. Poor pony has Pitted Endima (SP???)
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His legs are rock solid, his pasterns are the same width as his fetlocks! Apparently they way to tell is to push your thumb into it really hard and it should leave an indent.

I cold hosed, gave bute, walked then bandaged and left him in last night (As per vets instuctions).

They Hadnt gone down this morning so the Vet has perscribed antibiotics. If the swelling doest go down it could turn into a nasty infection (He vet called it Lymph something or other).

So hopefully he is on the mend!
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He was a very poorly bunny last night but was feeling much better this morning! I have turned him out so he can stretch his legs and relieve some of the swelling!
 
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