Swollen legs and scabs

[BellaBee]

Right, a bit lengthy so bear with. about a week ago my mare has gotten swollen legs (all 4) and very slightly lame on one of her fronts. Her lameness was very mild and we were told to gently ride it out (straight lines only) as we put the swelling down to her being in at night so wanted to try and get it down.

We have been bandaging them up to help reduce the swelling and she is out in a small paddock so she can move around for a few hours in the day. The swelling in her fronts has all but gone now and she is trotting up sound, however her backs are still swollen even after exercise (though they do go down a bit).

Also on her back legs just below the hocks is a large callous-like scab on each leg, part of one had worked loose so we had a look and it was yellow on the part next to the skin. We were told she got mud-fever but the scabs seem too high up and she wasn't muddy around them either. We have no idea how she got this scabs though we assume she kicked/ was kicked as she's had grazes in similar places during summer but nothing ever came of it.

We put the slight lameness down to slipping or something similar and she is perfectly happy in herself and not in pain at all.
But I was wondering if anyone had a clue of what to do to get these scabs to come off as they're horrible things and if anyone has seen something similar causing swelling?

 

[Black_Horse_White]

Is your horse a heavy breed with lots of feather? The symptoms you describe sound very simlar to Lymphendema Aka CPL. As it's been going on for a few weeks now maybe mention it to your vet.

 

[BellaBee]

No, she's quite a skinny TB, only been going on just over a week. But obviously if not looking better in a few days I'll have a vet out

 

[StarcatcherWilliam]

Could be mud fever - the scabs on the hocks could be due to a wet tail resting against that area?? Has the weather been very wet where you live?

 

[BellaBee]

Not overly wet, but enough for her tail to stay wet for quite a while especially if she'd had a roll. It could be her tail thinking about it, it's pretty long and kept getting in my way when I was bandaging.

Would it be worth cutting it shorter/ bagging it just in case?

 

[Andalucian]

What you're describing sounds like classic cellulitis, if you haven't already discussed this with a vet, you should.