hot fetlock but no swelling or lameness?!?!

[Daniellepurton]

Hi all

having never posted on this forum before a quick introduction, Im Danielle and I have a 16.2hh ISH called Ralph.

On picking out Ralphs feet last night, I noticed that his back left fetlock felt warm, trotted him up and he was sound, there isnt any swelling so I put some arnica gel on it.

Checked this morning it is still warm, he is happy to stand on it and is still sound on being trotted up. Going to hose it tonight and give him a bute.

Anyone had this experience before, my friend said it could be bruising. He did slip over in the school when lunging on Sunday but was fine when continued lunging and then rode. he was out in the pouring rain yesterday so wondering if he slipped then.

Any ideas?

Thank you Dani and Ralph

 

[kellyq]

I had this problem just last week. My mare had heat in her front near fetlock, there was no swelling and she wasnt lame on it either. I cold hosed it and used ice clay on it, but the heat was still there a few days later, so I called the vet just to put my mind at rest.
Vet thinks she has just knocked herself as she is very fizzy and tends to just throw her legs about at times. Vet thinks its nothing to worry about - which I also thought but wanted to double check.
If your worried why not phone the vet, even just to talk it over.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Be careful about giving painkillers when you don't know the diagnosis. Sometimes, as harsh as it sounds, it's safer to leave the horse in pain so he remembers that his leg hurts.

 

[beaconhorse]

sounds like he just tweaked it. However I am not a VET!! personally I would do what you are doing and if no better after the weekend or gets worse then call the vet. I know a lot will say you should just call the vet and they may well be right but my with my old horse if I called the vet everytime he got a bit of heat I would have been bankrupt and insurance would have excluded every part of his body lol