Persistently swollen hind leg

[StefDua]

Hi, just wanting some suggestions really. I've just taken on an ex-p2p horse on loan. The first week he went incredibly lame and his back leg swelled up to an amazing size. He's seen the vet and had antibiotics and a course of penicillin. His leg went down a huge amount and now there is no lameness there at all. However, he is still slightly swollen. We've spoken to the vet and he said leave it and see. He has no shoes at the moment and some people have suggested getting shoes on him and seeing if that would help but the vet said don't shoe him until it goes down. What do people think? Any suggestions on what may help, vet is reluctant to give any more meds. Am eager for it to go and get some shoes on him as haven't had a chance to get on him yet!

 

[carthorse]

Surely penicillin is an anti biotic, if it had cellulitis then sometimes you are left with a bit of swelling.We had a vet that said ours would never go down completely but we changed vets and another vet tried another type of antibiotic and the leg went down completely..Sometimes a bit of slow work helps to reduce swelling or stable bandages may help.

 

[Nailed]

This sounds to me like a case of lymphangitis, suggest this to the vet and see what he thinks. The fact he has also had to have anti-biotics supports this theory.

I was given a PTP gelding in october 2006 and both of his hind legs are perminently twice the size of a normal leg with no definition (if you would like big to give to yor vet i can get these for you)

From the farriery point of view i have it is best to leave the shoes off as the pump action of the frog pressure on the floor aids the flow of lymphantic fluid away from the legs.


A few tricks i use with Ted is as much turnout as possible. Excercise when the turnout is unavailable
stable bandaging over night when in.
a sachets of bute when needed as this dilats the vessels and aids the flow of lymphatic fluid away from the legs.
Toys in the stable to encourage him to move
massageing of the legs up towards the heart (against the hair lye)

Lou x

 

[StefDua]

Thanks guys - he is turned out all the time at the moment with 2 others apart from when the rain is too much. Trying to avoid having him stood in the box too long although he was fine the other day when he was in over night, and went stonking off over the field with his mates in the morning! I'll do some research on both suggestions.