Swollen fetlocks

[chestnut cob]

Pony went hunting yesterday, ground v boggy and heavy. Hunted in boots all round. Turned out for a couple of hours after getting home and was fine. This morning pony has swollen fetlocks and is a tiny bit (maybe 1/10 at most) unsound, also a bit sore to touch. Hasn't been hunting since Jan this year and I've known this happen to him before when the ground is bad, usually just walks it off out in the field.

My question is - would you turn out or leave in, bandaged? Pony isn't with me (out on loan) and loaners phoned to ask whether I thought they should leave in bandaged (which is where he is ATM) or turn out, or call vet. Knowing it has happened to him before when I still had him, I've said TO today and see how he is by tonight. I figure that with TO he will either walk it off (which is what happened last time), or go lame and warrant the vet being called.

IMHO the swollen fetlocks are from bad ground yesterday, and possibly because his legs are clipped out so suspect the boots may have rubbed (I think that's why he is sore to touch), then standing in all night. I think the swelling will go down if he goes out in the field - or would other people do something else? I'm not too worried as IMO the lameness is being caused by swollen fetlocks rather than the other way around, and he's more than likely a bit stiff from yesterday's exertions as opposed to "lame"....

Thanks

Thanks

 

[Nailed]

QR.

Turn out and let him walk it off. He's had a hard day hunting and is probably feeling a little sore from that.. Having been in all night as well teh fluid tends to settle on the lower limbs.

Chuck him and and see how hes feeling later.

Lou x

 

[chestnut cob]

Thanks, that's what I've told them to do. Loaner phoned at about 11.30 and said she'd go back up at 1pm and TO. As it's happened before I'm pretty sure he will walk it off.

I've told her to text me later and let me know how he is, and if he's still sore/swollen they can get the vet tomorrow. TBH, she said she's feeling sore because he pulled all day so I imagine he's probably feeling it too!

 

[chestnut cob]

Bumped up because there has been a development...

So, after having swollen fetlocks and being a bit lame, pony was turned out on the 27th Dec and the swelling went down. Back in overnight that night and they were swollen again by morning. Pony also a little bit lame on right fore in the morning. Has been turned out all day every day and the swelling goes down. Right fore has a swelling about as wide as a 50p and twice as long on the inside near the fetlcok which is warm but he isn't sore to touch it. Right hind has a lump mid way above the fetlock, only about the side of a 1p piece and harder. Again, not sore to touch. As yesterday, loaner said his legs were swollen first thing but they'd gone down by the time I got there at midday. She trotted him up for me and he's not lame at all, also lunged on a circle and not lame.

Someone else at their yard has the vet coming out tomorrow anyway so she's going to get the vet to look - would you bother with the vet or just give him a few days off? Pony is 13 early next year and I guess he was eventually going to get lumps and bangs. He definitely isn't lame, just that he has these two lumps/swellings. I suspect he's just pulled something because the ground was so bad on Boxing Day. I've asked her not to work him for now, just keep turned out as much as possible.

Any opinions?

ETA - it's not mud fever, and he's being cold hosed twice a day.