swollen hock - not lame?!

[UKa]

Just a quick post what people think of this - found my girl with swollen (inside) hock area this morning and a small cut on it. I had her brought in last night so did not see her then but apparently the horses were running around madly in the fields. I cold hosed the leg and walked her around on it she is not lame and puts weight on it fine so decided that she would be best out (with the small cut wound cleaned and purple sprayed) and will see this pm if any improvement.
Now I am a bit worried she could have or get some infection in the joint but because she is not lame it is as if it just looks worse than it is - any opinions?

 

[BethH]

Just watch out for lymphangitus. Will get a lot of heat around the hock area and it travels the leg, very easy to get this time of year with flies etc, especially if they cut themselves, I would expect some lameness though. Just keep wound really clean, if you are worried at all get the vet to give you a course of antibiotics that will help knock anything untoward on the head. May just be swollen as she has knocked it a bit hard - hope it goes down quickly.

 

[UKa]

Oh, had not thought of that. How quickly does it travel? Just went to bring her in and swelling still there but had not got worse either so cold hosed again and put purple spray on and left alone to assess again in the morning. She is still walking on it though and happy to put full weight on ...

 

[BethH]

Just keep checking for any heat, hosing won't prevent heat from Lymphangitus as it is an infection. The hock gets really puffy and then it starts to travel either side of the area. Most horses I have seen with it are sore on the leg and lame so the fact she is sound makes me think you have done a good job cleaning it. Sounds like she has had a kick or a knock, hocks notoriously take a little while to go down but if you are in any way concerned over the next couple of days, if your vet is visiting the area get them to do a quick check. I am assuming as there is a cut it wouldn't be a spavin or anything like that on the move? That is not to panick you, as I really don't anything about your horses history, I just have a mare on my yard with a spavin where the hocks flares up every now and again.

 

[UKa]

Hi, thanks for this, I will of course keep the hock checked but she has not had any spavin before either and another horse from the field next to ours had a swollen leg after they had been running around on Thursday. What makes me feel positive today is that the heat had gone this morning despite her having been stabled over night - the swelling was still there but still not bothering her (she was happy running off in the field bucking when first turned out ...) - so I keep hosing and keep her on the move and if it gets worse again I will speak to vet. Thanks for your advice!

 

[BethH]

Glad she's better, hopefully swelling will disappear soon too and you'll be back on board!

 

[UKa]

Thanks for that. I think she will be ok only swelling now has gone further down into leg I suppose it is fluids that find their way round. Still no heat and she is happily putting weight on as before. I am keeping her as before, on the move a lot, seems to do her good. Strange really, ...