Mystery puffy legs

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Very confused as got up to yard and firstly my lame horse had jumped back into the other two. He hasn't changed and there was no evidence of much galloping but one of the others, a 16yr old tb has 3 legs that are about 3 or 4 times larger than normal and one leg is fine. He is sound, the legs aren't sore, they are slightly hot but no cuts and no pedal pulse. His glands are slightly up but he is happy and no runny nose, looks fine apart from legs. So far i have washed the legs in hibiscrub in case there are any small cuts, given him some deitch herbs in case its an allergic reaction and bandaged all the legs to reduce the swelling. Have absolutely no idea what it is, everyone else is fine, no puffy legs and my lame horse is no lamer so don't think there was any running around. Any ideas??
 
You shouldnt be bandaging legs that are swollen. You can cause pressure injuries.

I would keep a good eye on him, i would also pop my hand between his hind legs and gentle push up into his groin and see his reaction. If this area is hot and he reacts quite violently I would be calling the vet.

I think washing the legs was a good idea, But i would not be bandaging them while they are swollen. Bandaging is preventative, not a treatment.

Lou x
 
Not been wearing boots and has been pouring with rain!! Put the bandages on as he was leaning slightly more onto the front legs as the backs are puffy enough to be stiff and didnt want all the weight on one leg. Walks ok though, it was just standing but will take them off in a minute, thanks.
 
Id take them off.. More damage than good. Let he compensate if hes sore.

Also, try the groin test, its quite a tell tale sign. Is he at home then?

I have to go work. Ill check back shortly and see the result.

Lou x
 
My 3 year old mare had puffy legs the other week. They were fine on Wednesday, went to see her Thursday and all 4 looked like they were about to burst open. Each felt very fluid filled. There was no heat but I still hosed them but as she wasn't lame turned her back out. Still the same on the friday so I rang the vet. They advised to apply exercise banages on all for legs and to bring her in during the day. Lunge her for 20 minutes before removing bandages and turning her out overnight. 3 days before they went down but all is okay now. It was thought to be a combination of grass overload and the heat. She is on a diet now!
 
Had some advice from the vet as the glands were huge and by the time i got back up the 5 other horses had raised glands. the vet felt that as they had gone onto long grass a few days ago and have eaten continuously it was something called grass glands where the excess saliva collects in the glands and causes them to swell. the legs are probably an allergic reaction as all the rain has softened the skin and made them more sensitive. Just have to keep an eye on them all. may try the lunging if the legs havent gone down by the morning but was beginning to panic a little. My horses have never had grass before (just got our own yard) so their whole regime is having to change. Thanks for your help!
 
I'm sorry Lou but bandages ARE useful and can be used as part of treatment!

There is horse at yard with adema/swollen feltock area and vet (FEI vet) bandaged to keep swelling down and keep area supported. as part of treatment.

OP i think the puffiness could just be because of the hard ground and could just be a bit of concussion?
 
My horse had something very similar this spring when the lush growth of grass came through. He has never had swollen legs in the four years I have had him. At first he only had one front leg affected and I though OMG he has pulled a tendon but the YO had a look and said he had probably just knocked himself as he wasn't lame or in any pain when pressure was applied so I hosed it and rode him lightly and it went down somewhat. But then the the next day he had 3 swollen legs but again no lameness - after a about a week of varying degrees of swolleness all returned to normal and he has been fine ever since. I put it down to the rich grass as his saliva glands were also up. Perhaps with the warm and wet weather we are having the grass is very rich again? Fingers crossed its something simple like that.
 
My mare went like this a couple of years ago due to the yard putting all the horses in a field that had to much grass in and not letting us know that they were doing it. I found that by walking around the road that by the time I got back to the yard the legs had gone down to normal size and from then on she was turned out at night with a grazzing muzzle on until the grass was at normal levels.
 
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