odd swelling leg any ideas

[longtalltilly]

Right, got old boy out the stable this morning only only to find a slightly lame horse(only just noticeable but wouldn't pass a trot up) slight swelling around the back of fetlock but more filled leg than any particular place. but no heat or pain etc! Turned him out for the day and when he came back in from field swelling had gone down and he was sound. Lunged him lightly and still sound although on returning back from an easy 10min session the leg was swollen again, but no sign of any heat or lameness!

Just been up to do a late check and the swelling has appeared again. He is in the stable but only the one leg is swollen! No heat or pain just a rather filled leg!

Any ideas?

 

[Llwyncwn]

I would be concerned due to the fact that Im a paranoid tendon person who is renouned for causing others to become paranoid

However, the only real way to find out what is going on in the leg is a scan. The area around the back of the fetlock is the site of the anular ligament which normally swells as a secondary to a tendon injury. The very fact that there is a swelling IMHO is a warning that something is going on in there.

These may or may not be the rantings of a mad woman, however I chose to ignore this on one vets advice and I ended up breaking my horse.

Hope this is nothing, please let us know what happens.

 

[ribena73]

My mare has a tendon injury at the moment and it's only noticeable by the swelling. There is very little heat and she hasn't been lame or sore. As Llwyncwn said, I'd get the vet out and get him scanned to be sure. In the meantime cold hose the leg as much as possible, and I've bought some cooling gel that I am plastering on as much as I can. Oh and my vet advised not to bandage a tendon injury as retaining heat can make it worse.

 

[Morgan123]

i know this sounds odd, but could it be a hoof problem? have had v similar signs with my cob, i thought he had some sort of fetlock sprain but turned out to be hoof abcess! There was no heat in foot, swelling only appeared (above fetlock) if he was standing still, and then disappeared if he walked on it! Only slight lameness, but got worse over a week (obviously) as i was not treating it, since i was just hosing/treating as if a sprain. when i spoke to vet she said that's quite usual for such swellings! Might be a possibility??!

 

[oofadoofa]

Agree with Morgan 123, more than likely something in the foot, infections usually travel up the leg like this. Fingers crossed for you that's what it is. xx

 

[kellyeaton]

are you sure it his not a gravel run?

 

[Marchtime]

Personally if he's fairly sound and comfortable and he's older and not in serious competition work I'd give it a few days. I would be suggesting scans etc if you had not referred to him as 'old boy' but my old pony often has a filled leg or two after a night in. She is then stiff first thing. I'd keep his routine as normal turn out wise but give him a few days off. If he gets worse obviously get the vet but otherwise I'd see how it goes. These oldies can tweak things causing swelling without doing much damage.

 

[hellybelly6]

Also a paranoid tendon person.

My horse was a bit like this and it turned out he had split his DDFT.

I would suggest rest for a week or so and see how he is. If he is still 'not right' get the vet out. I hope he is tho

 

[longtalltilly]

ah just re-read! i did refer to him as old boy(thats just his nick name as he is out with a yearling) he is 12!

am going to give him the week off, or at least the next couple of days and see how he is then! he just is not consistently lame and its not consistently swollen!