Swollen hind leg

[hallarider]

Hi guys

I bought my horse in this afternoon. His nearside hind is swollen from fetlock up, about half way up cannon bone and quite painful to touch. I couldn't feel any heat. He can trot on it but there is definate lameness there. Its not like the lymphangitis swelling. Just hoping its not tendon injury. He does have a bit of mud fever on his pastern - could this be the cause?

What would you recommend before I call the vet? I was thinking cold hosing and box rest for a couple of days - the vet is due out Friday this week for another horse. Would you bandage both legs or not? Should I be worrying as much as I am??

Many thanks

 

[Cliqmo]

Yes to cold hosing, no to bandaging at this stage as it is very warm and you could undo the good that the hosing will do

 

[Bossanova]

Can you describe the swelling- is it even alround the leg or more on inside/outside?
Is it puffy and does it pit when you press it or is it harder swelling, is the leg ridged? Does it extend down onto the fetlock joint?
Have you hibiscrubbed it and checked really carefully for cuts?

 

[hallarider]

Swelling is more towards the fetlock joint and on the back of the leg. Its quite firm especially when he picks it up. I did think it was the beginning of lymphangitis again but nowhere near as much swelling this time. There is no swelling at the front of the leg. I suppose the leg is a little rigid. He does have windgalls as well.

thanks for your time.

 

[cellie]

I have this with my mare left over from her mud fever problem.If she has tiniest little nick her fetlock swells and heats up .As soon as I find the graze and treat it with betnovate I find the swelling goes within about 12 hours.I wash the cut with iodine type solution she cant tolerate hibiscrub every day until the cut has completely healed.It does sound similiar to my mare ,she had cellulitis and needed anti biotics at one stage.I find that turnout and walking out for hacks help swelling .Last week I had to cancel farrier she was hopping lame after treatment she was 100% sound the next morning.

 

[Cazzah]

My TB has just recovered from an inflamed tendon sheath in his nearside hind - swelling location sounds very similar. Treatment was predominantly box rest and cold hosing. It did take time and patience for him to come right but he's absolutely fine now. Or, as the others have said it could be a cut so a bit of Hibiscrub wont go amiss. I'd rest him, keep hosing and see what the vet says on Friday. Fingers crossed.