Leg Swelling with a cut?

[Orangehorse]

I realise that I have never questioned why this happens, but if my horse gets the slightest wound his leg promptly swells up.

It has happened twice now, and both times it was very hard at first to decide whether it was a strain or an infection, so first I hosed it with cold water and then called the vet. The first time was after a pleasure ride when he had the minutest little cut on the underside of his fetlock that couldn't be seen, only felt, and the second time when he had an over-reach.
The over-reach was washed off and treated but after a few hours in the stable he had lovely filled legs.

Since the infection wasn't great, I am quite surprised at the amount of swelling. This must be a "horse thing" but does this happen to all horses?

 

[Sparkles]

Mine does...he had one bout of cellulitis a few years back when he shredded his rug in the field and grazed his hinds from the straps caught round them. Now, the slightest nick and he'll swell up, or if he's kept stabled he'll now swell either. I lob a bute down his neck and a course of anti-b's, keep him moving and he's fine. Looks worse than it is.

 

[paulineh]

Cheaper and better for your horse is Cleavers and Maigold which helps the lymphatic system . Also Nettles help the blood.

My boy had the same problem until I started using the Hilton Herbs "Cleavers and Maigold"

Try and find some Cleavers "the weed that sticks itself to other plants

 

[be positive]

The above from HH is brilliant, it really gets the circulation going and reduces the swelling.

 

[Black_Horse_White]

I used to feed my horse cleavers fresh when it was growing around August time, it's what we called sticky buds in the not so olden days ;-)