Swollen legs-I know there's quite a lot on this but please read!

vallin

vallin

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Hi,
My horse has had a swollen left hind fetlock for quite a while now, although never with any lameness. Itstarted after she blted once, and I think at that point the swelling was the result of a windgall. There was no lamness so i just cold hosed and kept her on walking work for a week and then resumed normal work, with no ill effects. However her leg remained a little 'squidgy' but it didn't appear to bother her at all.
The swelling got a worse when she started coming in a night but I assumed this was just filling up from being in her stable, and when I asked the vet he said that was right.
I assumed that now that she was out perminantly out again the swelling would go down so it was just a little 'squidgy' but there is still a lot of swelling. I cold ose them when ever she comes in, and after I ride (we do a bit of everything; dressage, showjumping, WE)...but there is definaly never any lameness. Her other fetlocks are a little 'squidgy', but not like the left hind. If anyone has any idea what might be causing theswelling/how to encourage it to decrease I would be greatful!
Thanks!
 
i dd when she was stabled, but not now that she is out perminantly, If i'm jumping higher/solid fences she has tendon boots on the front and fetlock boots on the back, but i generally just work her with bare legs.
 
If our mare has tiniest little nick on her fetlock (i think she catches herself schooling)then her leg swells up .This resulted in mud fever.If you look and feel really carefully around fetlock you might find small nick.If I clean hers every night then her leg doesnt swell.From now on will be using brushing boots for schooling.The back leg is furthrest away from heart so circulation is poor and they can get minor infection.
 
I agree with cellie and suggest skin issues, whether it's general irritation (mud fever or similar) or a nick. You don't say if she has a white sock (more delicate skin); it just seems a bit worrying that it came up after a hard gallop. Is it worth trying bandaging? Seems silly to spend money on vet / investigations if she is 100% sound, but peace of mind . . . ?
 
She's a bit worse on her right rein, but she always has been, and i haven't noticed her getting worse on either rein though she has seemd a bit stiff sometimes
She has one white sock on her left hin (not the swollen one)
When she first came in with the swollen leg i checked her carefull for cuts, but i couldn't see anything, however i may try riding her in brushing boots to see if this helps. I've also been looking at the sports boots but I'm not sure if they'll make a difference or not...
In terms of mud fever it unlikely as her feild is pretty dry and her legs get thoroughly cleaned when I bring her in and quite often rinced as well...
In terms or vet I have been thinking about it, but tbh it cost me a fortune for her vaccinations and i can't really afford it whilst she's still sound...i know it's not ideal...
Thanks for your ideas so far! Any more would be great...
 
it may be that your horse has a synovial swelling, e.g. an articular or tendinous windgall, which can result from mild trauma. If so they may be unsightly but unlikely to do any harm. They may eventually clear up, if the synovial membranes have permanently stretched they can fill up again and they will change size depending on whether your horse has been moving much, been kept in etc as this affects lymphatic drainage from the lower leg. Some horses windgalls can look worse after heavy activity, which may depend on how long it takes the tissues to drain. 'Filled' legs usually arise when a vulnerable horse is deprived of the movement on which the transport of lymph in the lower leg largely depends, and should always be avoided if possible. Recent research has shown that bandaging the legs can make them appear to improve by stopping the flow of lymph through the lower leg vessels, but this works both ways, preventing lymph and the waste products it carries from leaving the tissues and potentially worsening the condition. Bandaging is very unlikely to cause stretched synovial tissues to shrink. Bearing in mind that windgalls are caused by trauma, your horse's legs shouldn't be put under undue strain - bolting of course not under your control! - and even though the expense can be a real issue, at signs of pain and inflammation, do get the vet in, as this can lead to further problems. But hopefully the problem is only going to be cosmetic.
 
Hiya,
Thanks for you comment, I was looking at a couple of other topics and I think that it probably is synovial swelling, as it seems to fit the description. I might try working her in brushing boots to reduce and extra trauma, still debating on wether to fork out for the sports boots-if anyone's had any experiance with these and knows if they're any good let me know! And I will of course get the vet out if she shows any sign of pain.
Thank you!
 
My mare has this on both hind fetlocks - she was slightly lame on the off hind to start with (not noticeable visually, but I could feel it, and definitely on a circle). I had the tendons scanned and the vet put it down to a windgall. She was on box rest then for around a month and it seemed to improve but I was always very conscious that she may be weaker now. (Unfortunately she has now pulled something on the other fetlock, is really lame and on box rest again, as of yesterday). The swelling in her fetlock goes right round the back of the joint, making her fetlock look big and puffy, but the first fetlock is fine now, just looks ugly. The other one now looks the same so at least she has a matching pair!

I know when I pulled the ligament around my ankle it was really painful for around 6 months, and the joint looks a little bit swollen still, a year down the line, so I guess these things do get better but need time, and can leave cosmetic damage.
 
Hi, if it is a synovial swelling, the damage may have been caused by an 'overuse' problem rather than her hitting herself, causing some local inflammation at the time. If you think the swelling might get bumped because it's increased the surface area of the joint them brushing boots would probably be a good idea, just to prevent anything like that happening, however, they won't fix the swelling itself. Given horses' ability to do themselves damage in the most unlikely situations, brushing boots when she's being exercised might be a good idea anyway! Hope it goes well for you.
 
Thanks! I've got some woofwear dressage wraps which i'm going to use for the time being until I can get something more approprate! At least that way I'll feel like I'm doing something
Thanks for all your help Vx
 
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