Swollen Fetlocks in a Weanling

[DPDOT]

Hi,

has anyone experienced their weanling (7months old, been weaned for over a month now) having swollen fetlock’s after being stabled overnight? No lameness or heat.

Stabled overnight from 3/4pm until max 9am. Has Acres upon acres to roam on during the day with multiple other foals their age.

just curious as have not experienced this before!

Thsnks

 

[PurBee]

If the foal since birth has been turned out 24/7, and now its winter, is suddenly being stabled 17-18hrs and having 6-7hrs turnout time, it likely is ‘filling-up’ legs/fetlocks, due to inactivity/standing many hours in stable, compared to the exercise he was getting.
Like water retention, which soon goes down after movement resumes.

If he’s been used to being stabled for many hours, and turned out, and this is new swelling after stabling, it could be a recent field ligament strain from hooning around with his foal pals. Its been raining a lot everywhere recently, so field slips n sliding more likely. Though this usually presents with lameness and heat so would be inclined to think former theory more likely.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Can you try cold hosing? Usually goes down pretty quickly, or just a hand walk round the yard will get the fluid moving again ?

 

[ycbm]

It happens in horses of all ages not used to being in and in some that are used to it. If he was mine I wouldn’t have him stabled overnight at that age.
.

 

[DPDOT]

Thank you for all your replies-

The foal has been in a routine of coming in at night time for over a month now and enjoys their rest of an evening.

I would have thought this was enough time to adjust to being stabled?

When turned out this morning, it took a few hours for the legs to go down. There was a degree of puffiness that remained.

 

[ihatework]

For peace of mind I’d want a decent vet to take a look. It’s probably nothing but if you do have a developmental issue best addressed asap

 

[Barton Bounty]

Thank you for all your replies-

The foal has been in a routine of coming in at night time for over a month now and enjoys their rest of an evening.

I would have thought this was enough time to adjust to being stabled?

When turned out this morning, it took a few hours for the legs to go down. There was a degree of puffiness that remained.

My friends horse always has swollen legs in the morning in winter. His routine never changes and the puffy legs reappear every october as the coming in at nights starts ?

 

[ycbm]

Thank you for all your replies-

The foal has been in a routine of coming in at night time for over a month now and enjoys their rest of an evening.

I would have thought this was enough time to adjust to being stabled?

When turned out this morning, it took a few hours for the legs to go down. There was a degree of puffiness that remained.

I think the foal is telling you that it shouldn't be only getting 6 hours turnout a day and in for 18 hours at that age. Is it alone? If you are going to keep doing it and the swelling continues and takes hours to go away then I think you need a vet to take a look.
.

 

[Asha]

Lots of people / breeders etc barn foals over the winter ( it’s not for me , but seems to work for others ) so although not ideal foals / weanlings can cope being in . Especially at the minute it’s so blooming wet .
As for the swelling my vet had a look at my youngster when he was 3 months old as his legs had swollen . He did say as long as it’s a pair or all of them not to worry to much . It’s usually when only one is swollen it’s a problem .
If you are concerned then get your vet to have a look .
Is he stiff when he comes out of the stable ?
ETA .. swollen / lumpy fetlocks can be a sign of physitis. There’s been a lot of that recently with the ground over the summer being hard . Is he big for his age / heavy ?

 

[ycbm]

The post refers to being stabled, not in a barn.
.

 

[PurBee]

Another thought with regular equal swelling of limbs would be to look at salt intake. Too much salt being retained would increase water retention, which always starts with legs than any other area. So if the foal is getting a feed with a lot of salt added, and has a salt block, it might be worth reducing the salt and see if that affects puffiness.

In winter stabled, theyre likely, especially that young, to chew on a salt block if its in the stable, for stimulation rather than need of salt - which would increase need for water in the body to balance the high salt intake, and cause water retention and leg puffiness.…until its all pee’d out, puffiness reduces, then some turn-out time, moving everything, then stabled again and consuming salt and water. It could become cyclical.

Worth checking the salt and water intake, if thats increased since stabling it could be that. The need for salt now less active is reduced, compared to hooning around 24/7 with other foals.

If horse was older, id say check kidney function with vets - but maybe go that route to pull basic bloods and sodium levels to check alongside assessing salt intake, if the puffiness is really bad.

 

[maya2008]

I might get vet to look if the weanling was mine. I have two yearlings who come in during the day for 6 hours or so to eat and dry off/rest. No issues with swelling in either of them.

 

[DPDOT]

Hi all,

Thank You for your responses, I have had a vet out to look at said weanling and they were diagnosed with Epiphysitis/Physitis.

Thanks Again

 

[ihatework]

Hi all,

Thank You for your responses, I have had a vet out to look at said weanling and they were diagnosed with Epiphysitis/Physitis.

Thanks Again

That was my concern, will be fine but well done for taking seriously

 

[ycbm]

Hi all,

Thank You for your responses, I have had a vet out to look at said weanling and they were diagnosed with Epiphysitis/Physitis.

Thanks Again

Ironically, given what I posted earlier, the advice for that seems to be to keep the youngster in, reducing movement until it stops swelling, and get the weight down. Is this what your vet has advised?
.

 

[DPDOT]

Ironically, given what I posted earlier, the advice for that seems to be to keep the youngster in, reducing movement until it stops swelling, and get the weight down. Is this what your vet has advised?
.

Yes that’s what the vet said. The weanling has been on box rest with hand grazing for 2 weeks now. She is coping with it very well. One leg is now essentially back to normal no swelling and the other has reduced swelling but still large.

 

[ycbm]

A friend had a foal of the same age with this problem and it seemed fine by the time it was sold. I hope you have similar progress.
.

 

[DPDOT]

A friend had a foal of the same age with this problem and it seemed fine by the time it was sold. I hope you have similar progress.
.

do you know how long your friends horse had to stay in?

 

[ycbm]

My recollection is that he was weaned to reduce his nutrition and was only in for the time required to wean. Have you been advised whether yours is carrying to much weight/ doing too well?
.

 

[DPDOT]

She is actually on the fine line of needing more weight on her, vet is happy with how she is at the moment. We just have to keep a close eye.

when I asked the vet if there was a timescale I would be looking at to get my foal back in the field and she just said “ we are probably looking at a long game here” which is pretty hitting as I want her out as much as possible with the other weanlings being a baby!!