Swelling in rean tendon sheath/above fetlock

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OliviaMae

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Hi, my mare has got a fluid filling type swelling in the back of the lower tendon (tendon sheath area just above the fetlock) in her hind leg.

She has just recovered from greasy heel/mud fever where she had random swelling through that process (due to infection ect..) now greasy heel has gone and all Swelling too apart from this one hind leg.

She is a showjumper, 90/100cm.. She has got NO lameness or pain signs atall and the swelling doesnt change with work or rest. It sometimes is a bit better at times but just randomly not woth rest or anything.

Any ideas about what this could be?
Thanks
 
Difficult to know without seeing, but could it be a simple windgall?

Or, perhaps a residual swelling from sluggish lymphatic system (although that would tend to improve with walking and re-fill overnight)?

If it were mine and I was not sure I would have the vet have a look. Best a couple of weeks off now if it is something grumbling than a whole lot of time off later.
 
my old mare had that and it turned out to be tendon sheath strain and she had 3 months off.....i had assumed it was a windgall and carried on as usual and then she went slightly lame so i called the vet,,,,perhaps get the vet to check it out as she is a jumper.
 
Last Nov. my gelding had a small swelling above his hind fetlock; fluid filled tendon sheath, he has had windgall type swellings in the past. Got Vet to check deemed sound and passed flexion but advised three weeks rest. Vet out again, still sound advised bring back into work slowly. Fast forward to Feb (only hacking during this time - mostly walk), still a little swollen, still appeared sound to me, different vet visited, advised to go in for lameness work up. Deemed 1/10ths - 2/10ths lame on a circle.

Long story short - 30% tear to DDFT diagnosed Feb, MRI, PRP injections, continuous ultrasound scans (thank god for insurance), still not back in full work. Still not obviously lame, but is starting to take some steps on a soft surface that don't look quite right to me. Prognosis still guarded, no idea if he is going to have a ridden career or not as still in rehab stage.

It's all still hard to believe sometimes as he was never *that* lame, is more than happy in himself etc, but they are just not sure the tendon is going to hold up long term.

Knowing what I know now, I would always get something to do with tendons or tendon sheaths checked.
 
OliviaMae said:
Wow, thanks for that! Ive got her booked in for vet scans this week! :)
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I think that’s a good plan. Find out what you are dealing with.

My mare got windgalls last summer after a trip to the beach and then went lame behind. We did not investigate as she had been retired to light hacking anyway and was sound in walk so happy to potter in the field.
The swellings never went away and about 6 weeks ago she went lame again behind in trot. Unfortunately the lameness, despite seeming to improve after a few weeks, has gone worse again. Pony is not conventional as she cannot have surgery due to a tracheal collapse, or steroids due to laminitis, so vets and I have agreed that we won’t bother finding out what’s going on, but will just try and keep her comfortable. We highly suspect annular ligament.
 
OliviaMae said:
Wow, thanks for that! Ive got her booked in for vet scans this week! :)
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Fingers crossed it's nothing :)

I'm sure mine is an extreme case... it's been 6 - 9 months of being stuck in limbo, it's been awful. I just want a yes or no, but sadly have to keep going with the rehab to see whether he'll cope with being a ridden horse or whether he's going to be a 500kg pet
 
You should be able to see on the scan. My horse had similar symptoms. Torn bits around the tendon sheath that were causing swelling, but not structural damage (so not v lame until the swelling got large enough to be uncomfortable).
 
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