Tendon injury/splint forming/bruising!!?? HELP!

[EmmaR]

Hello
Right I was meant to have a lesson with my instructor Saturday went to get my horse in and his front right leg was swollen, he was perfectly sound but some heat and swelling at the back of his cannon bone, flexor tendon area, all the way down to the fetlock. He is a very dainty thoroughbred who is extremely sensitive! He is out in the field by himself but my friends little section A keeps escaping and getting into my field, my horse is the biggest wimp ever and will not stick up for himself and has been getting beaten up by the pony!!
Could it just be a knock from the pony catching him or am I looking at a more severe tendon injury?? Or possibly a splint forming?
There is no cut or breaking of the skin just swelling and heat. I immediately hosed it for 15mins and made no difference I have been putting cooling gel on it 3 times a day but is still slightly swollen and hot. He lives out so have left him out as he was perfectly sound and didn’t want to make the swelling worse by keeping him in but am now going to bring him in and bandage.
He is in medium work bought him to event but taking things very slowly gets ridden 6 days a week but only hack/school/lunge and a 1hr lesson a week and mostly walk and trot only not ready for canter yet!! Which makes me think it’s unlikely to be a tendon injury as I don’t do much with him yet!!!??
Any ideas?? He is an ex racer 7 yrs 16.1hh
Thanks any advice much appreciated!

 

[K27]

I'm no vet! but sounds like he could maybe have either a bit of bruising or concussion related due to the hard ground?. If it were my horse i'd speak to vet for advice or they may want to take a look if it didn't go down after a few days hosing as they may be able to give you something to put on it to reduce the swelling- or they could scan if need be.

If you bandage it can be difficult to judge whether it is getting better or worse.

Good luck though.

 

[EmmaR]

Thank you!
Thats why I hesitated to bandage in the first place as i couldnt monitor any progress or if it was getting worse so may just bring him in and not bandage although could standing in then make the swelling worse!?

Also got plenty of bute but didnt want to give him any for the same reason!
Have booked him in for Wednesday for the vet as we have free call out on certain days but might ring and speak to my vet in the mean time to advise!

Thanks again. The ground is very hard and he is extremly sensitive so could be a reason!

 

[Miss L Toe]

It's a veterinary problem, best to take advice from him or her, generally speaking I would stable for a day at least to monitor problem and hose for 20 mins three times a day. hosing is used when there is heat in the leg. Bandaging is used to support and keep leg warm, so not to be done without a diagnosis and a plan of campaign. I always bandage both legs to support both evenly. The vet will probably advise Danolin, to reduce pain and inflamation.
There is no point is speculating as to reason for injury until the leg has been diagnosed.

 

[K27]

Thank you!
Thats why I hesitated to bandage in the first place as i couldnt monitor any progress or if it was getting worse so may just bring him in and not bandage although could standing in then make the swelling worse!?

Also got plenty of bute but didnt want to give him any for the same reason!
Have booked him in for Wednesday for the vet as we have free call out on certain days but might ring and speak to my vet in the mean time to advise!

Thanks again. The ground is very hard and he is extremly sensitive so could be a reason!

No worries- hope it's nothing too serious- thought i'd write you an answer as I've a similar horse who is sensitive and in the past he's come in with various fat legs and bruises and bashes!- gd luck.

 

[EmmaR]

Thanks, thats why i didnt rush and ring the vet straight away because he is so accident prone he is forever coming in with bumps and grazes, random swellings and things and they've been just from him bashing it and they go down after a couple of days rest.
Although because this one is in the tendon area i'm beginning to panic!

What makes it more difficult is he is perfectly sound and in no pain or discomfort as he is the sort of horse as soon as there's a tiny bit of pain he is quick to let you know!! He's dog lame if he looses a shoe for gods sake!!