Minor swelling in leg

[Horsegirl25]

Anyone dealt with this before?? Waiting on vet phoning back currently.
My horse had an abscess couple weeks back that burst out his heel, all good since then and been back on work etc. this morning noticed that his leg (same one as abscess was) was swollen slightly on the outside (abscess caused it to swell on inside). Didn’t think much of it, his legs can fill on the stable so not massively unusual, turned out but brought in this afternoon and no difference which is weird normally very defined when been out all day.
No heat, not lame but swollen! No cuts or bangs. Only thing I can think of is abscess not fully cleared? But again he’s not lame so not sure if that’s consistent with that.
Will attach some photos, as I say have sent pics/vids to vets but always useful to rack some of your brains too!!
Ps leg definitely not overly swollen but enough that I have noticed it, I am quite anal about his legs and know this is not his normal.
Edit- excuse the dodgy leg clip

 

[spotty_pony2]

They don’t look too swollen to me? Where am I looking down the back of the cannon bone?

 

[Red-1]

I would always advise to scan any swelling you're not comfortable with. It gives answers that can inform as to next steps and isn't prohibitively expensive. That said, that is more so with heat and in a horse who is a working animal as opposed to cool and in a horse who is a retiree.

 

[mini-eventer]

could be the abscess starting to brew again? I would cold hose and ice in the meantime. Cant go wrong with icing, if it is a tendon/ligament icing is vital. It also cant do any harm if it is not, so I always ice based on worse case scenario

 

[Horsegirl25]

They don’t look too swollen to me? Where am I looking down the back of the cannon bone?

I know it’s very very hard to tell on camera it’s easier to feel tho

 

[Horsegirl25]

I would always advise to scan any swelling you're not comfortable with. It gives answers that can inform as to next steps and isn't prohibitively expensive. That said, that is more so with heat and in a horse who is a working animal as opposed to cool and in a horse who is a retiree.

Thank you! Hoping vets just suggest to come out and scan, so weird as totally sound no other issues just swollen!

 

[Horsegirl25]

could be the abscess starting to brew again? I would cold hose and ice in the meantime. Cant go wrong with icing, if it is a tendon/ligament icing is vital. It also cant do any harm if it is not, so I always ice based on worse case scenario

Perfect, I have been cold hosing but doesn’t seem to be making a difference where as when I was hosing the swelling for the abscess I noticed it seemed to go down although maybe I am being impatient!. Odd! Hoping it is just the abscess brewing or just a knock in the field..

 

[mini-eventer]

Perfect, I have been cold hosing but doesn’t seem to be making a difference where as when I was hosing the swelling for the abscess I noticed it seemed to go down although maybe I am being impatient!. Odd! Hoping it is just the abscess brewing or just a knock in the field..

I always find ice has a bigger impact than cold hosing. although it can be more difficult if you do not have access to a freezer. I have ice boots now, but in the past I have frozen ice pops and taken them to the yard in a cool bag, then bandaged them to the leg. You can also insert them in to a tubigrip bandage which is easier

 

[Horsegirl25]

I always find ice has a bigger impact than cold hosing. although it can be more difficult if you do not have access to a freezer. I have ice boots now, but in the past I have frozen ice pops and taken them to the yard in a cool bag, then bandaged them to the leg. You can also insert them in to a tubigrip bandage which is easier

That’s interesting as I do have ice boots but find myself leaning to cold hosing as feel the leg is colder with the hose compared to standing with the boot on. But I do get that cold hosing is a faf!