one leg or two?!

[catherine22]

My horse has a deep cut to just below his stifle and is on antibiotics and bute now. (he did it xmas day!!) his legs have been filling over night (they dont normally) so do you bandage just the 'bad' leg or both hind legs?

I was always taught to do both, but now people seem to be saying theres no advantage to doing both legs?

 

[Shilasdair]

Do both because your horse rests the lame one (which needs bandaged to reduce swelling) and thus increases the weight borne by the sound one...which therefore needs bandaged for additional support.
And it should be the same person who does both bandages to ensure uniform tension.
So there.
S

 

[Mavis]

I always thought you did both to prevent the 'good' leg filling up whilst compensating for the 'bad' leg.

 

[DiablosGold]

I used to think you had to do both, but at my yard everyone just bandages the bad leg, so I would prob only do the one as I've never seen any suffer bad effects!

 

[GinaB]

I was taught to always bandage both.

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

Always both

 

[Krysha_n_Helga]

i have always been told to do both

 

[Selkie]

Do both

 

[Laafet]

I was taught to do both but at work we only do the bad leg, even when its a broken leg or laminitic foot. I find it weird but the vets from Rossdales tell them to do it that way so they only ever bandage the bad leg.

 

[elsielouise]

You've said 'his legs' (plural) are filling so therefore without question I'd do both. make sure you keep the bandaging tension consistent throughout though and not too tight.

Lymphoedema is what you are treating which is the horses lymph fluid not moving around the body properly due to the wound. The bandages should act as a 'gravity defying' tool and help the fluid circulate and leave his system (in urine).

 

[Tia]

It completely depends on why the legs are being bandaged and which type of bandaging is being used.

Back in the old days, everyone always bandaged both legs, but back then we had ridiculously heavy bandages which were not breathable in the way they are today. These days all the lightweight bandages are able to be used purely for the injured leg.

A lot also has to do with how the horse is kept and how much movement it is allowed.

I can't answer your poll as it totally depends on the injury as to what I would do.