Swollen Fetlock PLEASE HELP

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cands

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My horse has a pretty swollen hind fetlock (just one) with no pain heat or lameness. Isn't a windgall, tendons down the back of the leg fine. Was found like this a couple of days ago and the swelling went down quiet a bit after excercise but then was the same the next day. She has minor swelling on her other legs but nothing to be worried about. She has just gone into a new paddock so i was thinking could be the grass?? There's no wounds. What you people think?
 
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I have experienced this before (swollen fetlock but sound) - got vet out as I had a competition that weekend and wanted to get a vets certificate or get the go ahead if they were happy with it. She was scanned and it showed tenosynovitis (swelling in the tendon sheath). Had steroid injection and 4 weeks box rest. Swelling went down, came back into work and then it happened again only this time was lame. Since been told its actually a high suspensory injury...... So could be either of these hypothesis. Swelling is a sign something is not quite right so I would get it checked if it dosnt go down in a few more days (NB you would expect swelling to go down with exercise but if it keeps re-occuring thats when you should call the vet).
 
Swelling basically gone - it must have been a little kick or something. Thanks for your help
 
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cands said:
My horse has a pretty swollen hind fetlock (just one) with no pain heat or lameness. Isn't a windgall, tendons down the back of the leg fine. Was found like this a couple of days ago and the swelling went down quiet a bit after excercise but then was the same the next day. She has minor swelling on her other legs but nothing to be worried about. She has just gone into a new paddock so i was thinking could be the grass?? There's no wounds. What you people think?
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Siant2 has hit the nail on the head. That's exactly what happened to my horse whilst away at a three day event (grass roots level). He landed funny after a steeplechase fence which is when I think he did it and his fetlock swelled. :(But as he was in temporary stabling at the event (and therefore not turned out) I thought it was just his usuall windgally self as his fetlocks and lower legs used to swell when stabled for any amount of time anyway and he wasn't lame on it, heck - he actually had a trot up in front of the vets for the show jumping on the last day (long format 3DE) and was passed without a murmur which just shows how sound they can be with a tendon sheath strain !!!

Wasn't until I got back home after the event and turned him out that I realised that when he came back in from the field, his one windgally felock had gone right down, but the other one hadn't.:eek: That's when alarm bells sounded, got the vet out and he said 'tendon sheath sprain' and injected and box rest and was fine afterwards.:)
 
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A pony at the place where I graze has a tendon stealth injury - is nothing like what my horse has :) It's hard when you can't actually see the injury! I'm pretty sure it's just a wee knock or something. No pain on palpation at all. She is in a small paddock on her own at the moment (for something different) but fetlock looks better after excerise (if it was tendon, ligament or tendon shealth swelling wouldnt have gone down). Thanks heaps for your help anyway. Will keep an eye on it when she goes back to paddock
 
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