One fat leg...Any ideas?

[Llee94]

My TB has had a fat back leg for about 4 weeks now. It has swollen from his chestnut down to his fetlock. In that time, I have had the vet look at him twice, the farrier look and various knowledgable friends but nobody seems to know what is causing it. Vet didn't think it was anything serious and not worth scanning, so said to wait a while to see if any change. He isn't lame at all, its not sore and there is no heat. I have checked for mud fever, cuts, thorns etc but have found nothing.
When he is stabled, his back legs normally fill, but once he is turned out they go down with movement. The only thing I can think of is that they have been on limited turnout since the end of December and he has been on his winter break for two months, so not being ridden. Could this have caused it? I try to let all my horses out in the field for a few hours a couple of times a week and he always goes ballistic, throwing himself around behaving like an excitable child (even though he is 15 this year!) so it obviously isn't causing him any discomfort. At first I thought it could be a knock from him being silly, but surely this would have gone down by now?! He puts weight on it and isn't resting it any more than normal.
Do you think it would be worth getting him scanned even though the vet said not to worry?
Has anyone experienced this or know what could be causing it?

 

[Victoria25]

My TB had a full fat leg as you described on two occasions. The first time she was diagnosed with lymphengitis (no visible cuts at all!) and needed a full course of bute/anitbiotics – the day after the vet came two huge abscesses popped out either side of her leg! The second time it happened 9it was coupled with two days of not walking on it, vet assumed it was a flair up, came up and prescribed more antibiotics/bute but I had a feeling it was something else! I asked his boss to come up with an ultrasound scanner and found she had has damaged her suspensory ligament (branch) so I’d perhaps get the vet back with the scanner!?

 

[Pinkvboots]

I would say its due to a lack of turnout and not being ridden, on days his not going in the field what is he doing for exercise?

Tbh two days a week in the field is not much at all especially if not being ridden, I would start riding again just so he gets out for an hour or so for his mental state if nothing else.

 

[Orangehorse]

I would say its due to a lack of turnout and not being ridden, on days his not going in the field what is he doing for exercise?

Tbh two days a week in the field is not much at all especially if not being ridden, I would start riding again just so he gets out for an hour or so for his mental state if nothing else.

Agree with this. What happens if you put stable bandages on - which would have to be both legs?

I had a horse that had a swollen leg, and after me and the vet thought it was a tendon and she was confined to the stable I put stable bandages and gamgee on her legs. The next morning I had a nice patch of pus on one bandage. The wound was so tiny and it was in a very awkward place, so we had both missed it.

But since this has been going on for a long time and there is no lameness, probably as above. Some horses are just more susceptible to filled legs than others.

 

[Llee94]

Thanks for the replies. He is the most laid back TB in the world (almost horizontal at times!) You would never have thought he has raced. Tried stable bandages and magnetic boots. Nothing has made any difference. He is on a large all weather turnout and can move around as much as he wants. I try to keep mine out in the field as much as possible (from march till the beginning of December we try to keep the out 24/7) but unfortunately we are at the bottom of a valley so we get our rain water and everyone else's which has left the field knee deep in mud. I have left the gate open to the field for the last two days so that they can go out if they wish but it is so wet that none of them have. When I make them go into the field, they gallop around and have fun for 5 mins and then stand at the gate waiting to come back in.
Every year he has from November till February off and we have never had this problem before. He hasn't got any shoes on at the moment so I am reluctant to take him out hacking as he is very susceptible to bruised soles.
I have spoken to the vet again today and he has prescribed a week of anti-inflamatories for him. Hopefully this will work and I can get his shoes back on and get him back into work. If not, I will be taking him up to the vets for a more thorough investigation.

 

[Hughie]

If it goes down, even if only a bit, when he is out, try walking him in hand twice a day so that he gets a proper bit of active exercise. Or a spell on a horse walker of course!!

 

[RamblingRosa]

Mine had 3 fat legs when out 24/7 in summer! No cuts or heat just swollen, vet said bute for a week which sorted them out. No idea what caused it but not happened again. Getting bute down him wasn't easy though!