Swollen back legs in the morning

[_jetset_]

Last year Grace had extremely bad mud rash which required 6 weeks of antibiotics to clear it up. Once it had cleared, she had very swollen back legs after being in the stable over night and the vet gave her two weeks worth of diaretics which cleared the swelling temporarily. However, they also scanned the worst leg and explained there was some lymphatic damage which could repair over time but required daily turnout.

All summer, she has been absolutely fantastic... there has been no swelling in her back legs. As soon as winter turnout started, I have been incredibly concious of keeping her legs mud fever free, and my routine has worked a treat as this time last year she was now on box rest with it. She does not have one scab this year!

However, since turnout became limited (we have 4 hours every other day) her legs have started swelling up over night again. The vet wanted me to minimise swelling so that the legs could repair themselves. However, with limited turnout this is very difficult. We do not have a horse walker, we cannot turn out in the arena and so far just riding her for an hour is helping bring them down but not prevent them re-swelling.

I have bought some magnet boots which I am starting to use (building up the period of time she wears them) but I was wondering whether I should start bandaging her legs over night to keep the swelling down?

Any other suggestions?

 

[carthorse]

New Christmas name ,I see.
Watch her diet maybe give epsom salts once a week in a bran mash,old fashion ,I know , but they knew a thing or two.

 

[_jetset_]

How much of the epsom salts in her feed? She won't eat bran mash, but could probably hide it in her regular feed as she is quite a difficult horse to get food into.

The damage has come from the mud rash, I have been told it is damaged lymphatic system and will not improve until her legs stop filling when she is stud in. I asked about the diet because my other mare can get swollen legs with too much protein, but the vet assured me that this is not causing hers.

Would bandaging overnight help or hinder this?

 

[cyearsley]

My last horse suffered with filled legs when on restricted turnout and bandaging the hind legs each evening prevented it. As long as the bandages are applied correctly (ask someone to show you if you're not sure) and they are not too tight or too loose, you should find this helps your situation, good luck.

 

[herbert]

I feed 20 grams Epsom salts daily and bandage legs with wraps that keep the heat in. Have had no trouble since I started doing this.

 

[_jetset_]

Thanks...

Forgot to mention she had lymphangitis last year too as a result of the mud rash

 

[Croeso]

Omg, Reading this post has made me so happy

to realise I am not alone in this problem

I spoke to vets and farrier about my mares swollen legs and only the vet said lymph but nither related it to mud fever and Equally I asked so many people and still no link was made

however I was sure the 2 was connected!

I have never had to deal with mud fever until movinf to wales and within weeks I had all my horses down with it vut only 2 got swollen back legs

this year only the yearling had it during the summer so I started to think it was food related, did find not feeding sugarbeet helpped -
it's a nightmare - I will also try epsom salts now, and mine love bran mash!

thanks and sorry to hijack your post!

 

[AmyMay]

Thumpers back legs are always filled in the morning, now he's stabled overnight.

I bandage.

 

[Andalucian]

Can you change to a yard where there is more turnout? Movement is the key to keeping on top of this.

 

[_jetset_]