Swollen fetlocks

[Wooleysmum]

fetlocks up on back legs again, had it last summer, he has been ridden most days, not lame, windgalls?Puffy and slightly warm. Rest I suppose? Any ideas welcome, he is 25.Has had laminitis in the past though fine at the moment. YO not worried, let him off riding for a few days and keep normal routine.Just wondered what is si all about.

 

[jenh166]

Check you're not feeding him too much sugar (molasses) or protein as these can make legs go puffy.
Could try cold hosing and stable bandages.
They may be windgalls (but are there fluidy lumps on his fetlocks, or diffuse swelling?, as windgalls are lumps) - hard ground and warmer weather can trigger windgalls to come up again.
I'd say walk exercise as long as he's not lame (as standing in could make them more puffy). But if not going down, may be worth just calling your vet (may not need a visit, but good to get advice!) Keep an eye on the heat though.

 

[Brandysnap]

Hi wooleysmum,

Like Bean88, i'd keep working him (other excellent comments from Bean88 also).

Doesn't sound like windgalls to me, tho (they're cold, permanent, + localised round fetlock. And they're not a problem either! Stop worrying!)

Just sounds like maybe he's been standing around a little more than usual, in this lovely weather? (Like wot i want to!!)

As it's in both hind legs, sounds like a metabolic/exercise thing. I'd cut down on hard feed, + things like Alfa-A. Interesting that he had it last summer also, so seems to me that it's reaction to good food/grass (my own old pony reacts in a similar way). Ie - too much good food for the body to deal with, without equivalent exercise.

If he were my horse, i certainly wouldn't cut down on his exercise, but would increase it, in order to keep his system moving, + prevent the fluids (usually a simple by-product from un-metabolised food) accumulating in his hindlegs.

All bests, BS x

 

[lamlyn2012]

If there is heat and swelling the horse should definitley be rested as otherwise you risk permanent damage to the joint structure. I would not describe windgalls as lumps. They are soft swellings containing synovial fluid.

 

[the watcher]

Was the swelling looked at last year?

If it has never been properly checked I would suggest the vets looks them over before working through - particularly since there appears to be some heat in them