Opinions Needed on enlarged Left Feltock

[pintokisses]

This is a courtesy Posting for a friend.

What the owner has to say about him:

" His left fetlock is 1 inch bigger than the other, i used my hands to compare so its not the best most accurate thing but i'm guessing its about 2cm bigger or around that. The swelling is more on the outside of his leg but the fetlock itself is swollen; its swelled with like fluid or something all around but way more on the outside."

My thinking is that this is a wind puff that is associated with a past racing injury (she recently bought him off the track from my understanding). . Once tissue has been injured and stretched out, it will always accumulate fluid more easily

Also remembering changes in climate can cause a horse's legs to swell, as well as stress.

Her horse's wind puff looks quite similar to that of this horse:

I am worried about the bump/blemish right above his fetlock, but also the fact the fetlock itself it enlarged as well.

I'm not sure if she's x-rayed his legs, but my feeling is that step has not been taken yet.

He is sound.

Here is a video of him with more photos of him and a video of him trotting:
http://youtu.be/3v_EPBiXXac

Just looking for some more opinion on him, and please excuse his weight he came to his owner very skinny and malnourished.

 

[cands]

Thats great that he is sound.

My old pony had a similar looking thing and it was diagnosed as a type of windgall; basically as you said - area was streached and fluid was in there full time - didn't cause the pony any problems.

My current horse has something that doesn't look as large but is similar. Got her out of the paddock one day and it was huge. No pain, no heat, no lameness at all. Hosed, arnica cream and bandaged. Got better. It still has a bit of puff in it (looks like a windgall) but goes down after riding, then fills a bit the next day. Has been like this for weeks and no problem at all.

Is it painfull when you flex it fully? Is it painful on palpation? If the answer to any of these is yes, I would get the vet out to do a tendon scan. If he is completly pain free I would be inclind to think it is just a superfical thing - but it wouldn't hurt to vet him anyway. I see it is only on the outside of the leg though - not sure why that is

Good luck