Swollen hind tendon this evening??

[TED2010]

Went to the yard after work and took my boy out of the stable to give him a brush and get him ready to ride. I always give his legs a thorough check over as he is on part livery (once a day) at the moment due to work commitments. He is out at night and in by day at the moment (yard rules ) so was brought in for me this morning. I quickly noticed that there was a swelling on his off hind tendon towards the top and there was some heat in it (was told he was fine when he came in this morning??) .

I trotted him up and he was sound so as he had been standing in all day I thought I would put him on the horse walker for 10 minutes to see if the swelling came down before hosing it. This is probably where I went wrong!? The swelling didn't come down with exercise. I cold hosed it for about 45 mins and have kept him in tonight with hind stable bandages on. He is a fairly sensible horse and doesn't usually charge around the field for no reason, annoyingly there is a rather bumpy patch in the field which was poached in the winter and wasn't harrowed or rolled before the ground turned to rock.

Has anyone got any experience of swelling in this area and how it is likley to have happened? There are no cuts or abrasions on his leg and I am at a bit of a loss, If the swelling had come down with excersise I would have assumed he had just knocked it but am worried it is something more serious. I rode him yesterday afternoon in the school and he was fine when I turned him out last night. Anyone had similar and what would you do from here? I am not working tomorrow so am going up first thing to see how he is.

Sorry for long winded post - worried

I was planning to take him to his first show on Saturday - typical horses!

 

[soulfull]

Firstly don't panic

similar happened to my horse a few months ago. However there was no real heat, no lameness. I could not feel any damage when I manipulated and felt the tendon, either standing of when I bent leg

I decided not to take any chances and called vet. He couldn't feel anything either but as I have had bad luck with horses he gave an anti- inflammatory jab and danilon for a week. Box rested for the week too

I cold hosed for 15-20 twice a day (any more is no good and detrimental)
Swelling went down within 3 days and after a week we sedated and turned out

Bought him back into work over a couple of weeks and no trouble since

I certainly would not be riding if there is heat and swelling.

Personally and heat and swelling in tendon areas I call vet, you can make things so much worse by leaving them

Good luck I hope it turns out to be minor

 

[TallulahBright]

My 3 yr old came in from the field last week, very lame with hind leg swollen tendon area- called vet. She's been on box rest for 9 days, danilon, stable bandages on and cold hosing twice daily. The vet came out to scan yesterday and is really pleased as there doesn't appear to be any lasting damage. I can turn her out in a very small paddock for a couple of hours tomorrow, building up the time over a week or so. Fingers crossed your boy recovers quickly. I'm with Soulful- vet for tendons!

 

[TED2010]

Thanks for the replies guys! I'm regretting not having the vet out today now, I have spoken to her twice and described his leg and what i'm doing. She seemed to think that I was doing all I could and that she would only tell me to cold hose and box rest for the next few days which is what i'm doing. I have given him equipalizone this morning and this evening, cold hosed this morning, lunch time and this evening put some gel on (for tendonitis, bruising etc, name is escaping me but vet said ok to use) and stable bandaging. She said if it got worse or wasn't better by the beginning of the week then she would come and see him.

I am worried though because it was warm again this evening and seemed quite filled again, I will see what its like in the morning but may decide on a Saturday vet call out !

I hate box resting, he seems fine and in no discomfort and just doesn't understand why he is stuck in the box, poor boy. If he was an idiot horse that did stupid things I would expect something like this but he is such a sane chap (except at times when ridden!) I wish I knew how he did it!!