Leg swelling wierdness in my BF horse

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jessieblue

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Hi folks, I am looking for any ideas or reassurance as I am kind of at my wits end with my lovely boy right now! Long story, he had an infection in feb, subsequent complications from penicillin injections, mild laminits from stress and toxicity. Back in work for 6 weeks went lame in front! Collateral ligament desmitis was diagnosed via MRI scan and I rpomptly took his shoes off for barefoot rehab. He has been turned out at nights and now 2 months bare and doing really well. Sound at walk and trot on hard surface and I have just started riding him in walk. He even copes quite well on stones. 6 weeks ago he came in with a kick to left hind. The leg swelled for a few days and the vet was concerned so x rayed. No fractures, so we managed it and it seemed to resolve. 2 weeks later he came in with same leg massively swollen, very painful to touch on inside of cannon, the kick was to the outside?? Anyway right hind slightly swollen too and fronts randomly puffy, not much but still puffy! Vet said cellulitis and came 5 days to give IV antibiotics. It resolved within 24 hrs mostly and I have continued to boot him with premier equine neoprene boots for pressure and protection from kicks etc. Hinds have been fine last 2 weeks but last week left fore was swollen inside of cannon bone (fronts have not been booted) Like a lump on inside between the tendons, soft and fluidy and not really sore to palpate. So I put magnetic boots on took temp etc all ok, swelling resolved over a few days. Today, I took boots off fronts and rode him in walk for 20 mins. He felt really good actually, we went a little way around the field where he seemed comfortable and really up for it. When I got back I noticed swelling to the back of his right foreleg, like where a bowed tendon would be! It was sore to touch, noticeably and there was a little oozing, not blood really but clear liquid like might be in a blister as if he had a sore there in the centre of the swelling. I wondered if he had somehow caught himself like an overreach, but this seems unlikely only having walked. I also wondered if the boots may have rubbed or put too much pressure on and it maybe swelled when I took the boot off! I cold hosed it and the swelling wasnt massive, but still I am now getting a little paranoid about these random swellings. At one time or another all 4 legs have had some wierd swelling, its not always at the same time, but seems to move around. He is not lame, or unwell, temp is normal. Does anyone have any experience of anything like this?? I have spent an absolute fortune on vets bills so have to stop panicking at the slightest little problem, plus my vet is pretty much at a loss with the latest thing anyway! Could it be caused by diet? He is on fastfibre plus prohoof supplement and seaweed and micronised linseed. I have noticed these swellings from time to time before, only very mild but I have seen them on him previously. If it were just the one leg and the one occasion I would think maybe tendon injury but this is not the first time and not the only leg!! Helllllp!
 
It sounds to me as if he is being bitten by insects that he may be allergic to. Are any others in the same field/on the same bedding affected?
 
I eould do aeay with the boots- neoprene is not a good material to use on legs for any length of time as it overheats and is not breathable and if you're using them tight enough for pressure, they could well be creating these sore spots
 
Ok thanks for replying. I did consider bites of some sort, just because the areas seem bite like in shape and feel if you know what I mean and the little weepy area could have been a sting or something. He is really sensitive to insect bites and has come up in large lumps all over his body before now. I have found using dettol with water the best fly repellant and has helped loads but he is out overnight so no doubt it wears off! I think the boots are neoprene! That type of material and yes I have used them tightish but they are sort of flexible all over. The velcro does fasten around the back at the point where the swelling was though and I have been doing them fairly tight or they slip down! Its difficult to know what to out on as I am worried my other horse kicks him again or his legs swell without boots on!! Bandages would no doubt come undone and be dangerous in the field. I cant wait until our horses are back on daytime turnout but sadly am on a livery yard so have no say! Thanks again. No other horses affected as far as I know. They are all on straw and only him and my other horse in the field. As I mentioned he does seem to swell quite easily so maybe a reaction to something.
 
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I would suspect the boots may be the culprit too, especially if your horse is sensitive. Some are allergic to neoprene (yes, the PE ones are). One other possibility that my vet recently suggested (my mare has one foreleg that randomly blows up around the fetlock joint, though there's no sign of joint degeneration on x-rays or consistent soft-tissue damage) is that the lymphatic system has been compromised/damaged. We didn't talk about this in enough depth for me to be more specific, I'm afraid (bit focused on her dodgy hocks at the time!), but it could be worth asking your vet about if your horse has had a series of injuries. Hope you get to the bottom of it!
 
I agree it is more than likely the boots many are not designed to be worn for hours on end, a friend of mine had a horse that had a terrible injury from boots that were lleft on overnight too tight, the sharer rode her and forgot to take the boots of before she left, her lleg was covered in huge lumps and it took ages for them to heal, they also used to weep liquid and one was much worse than the other.

I have bandaged my horse overnight in the field but I only have two in a fairly small field and they dont charge about, I would only use the soft fleece bandages with the pads underneath and never too tight as they too can cause awfull damage, what about the equi chaps not sure if they can be left on for long periods.
 
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