The mystery of the big leg

[CanteringCarrot]

So, horse surprised me yesterday with a hindleg swollen from hock to hoof. Uniform swelling, not really that hot, but a little warmer than the other one. Horse was fine the days prior to yesterday and acts normal, but with some lameness noticeable at the trot.

Vet suspects a cellulitis type deal. No signs of external injury though. So stated antibiotics and anti-inflammatory meds today. I feared it would be a soft tissue injury, but there's a lot of swelling so we can't do an ultrasound at the moment anyway, but we have a follow up on Friday.

Soo...anyone dealt with something like this before? Or an infection such as this? I did order some marigold and clivers. Will be there once a day for handwalk or ridden9 walk as suggested by vet. Really hoping it just clears up, goes away, and becomes a memory ?‍

 

[milliepops]

have dealt with cellulitis before, once with a wound and once with nothing to see (i had it in my face with no visible wound too).
if it is that rapid ABs is important so sound like you've made a good start. Last time one of mine had it they needed a long course of 2 different kinds to get on top of it. so did I actually

hopefully you should see an improvement soon, they can get a bit miserable if it is that.

Swellings that have been associated with soft tissue injuries have been a bit less generalised for my herd.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I got on it as soon as possible, so fingers crossed. I did read that sometimes a different course of antibiotics may be needed, and based off of what you're saying too, I won't be so surprised then.

The vet expected some improvement by tomorrow with the meds he gave (IV injection today) and if all goes well, within 5 days. Then we bring out some more defenses after that, if things aren't looking as they should. Of course he does this right before what is essentially a 3 day holiday here. ?

I am so paranoid about soft tissue stuff. I wrote to him already (yesterday) asking for an ultrasound ? bless him for dealing with me. Fortunately he's just down the road too.

 

[milliepops]

yeah my mare got kicked on 23rd December so her bout was over christmas too. Horses have appalling timing! Keep a close eye on it, if they deteriorate it can be hard to get on top of.

 

[ycbm]

Yes, cellulitis diagnosed in a horse crippled lame with a swollen hind leg, and an immediate response to antibiotics. I never found any entry point.

Fingers crossed you got it in time.

 

[Carrottom]

I had something similar about 10 years ago with one of mine, the antibiotics took most of the swelling down but there was a half egg shaped swelling left above the fetlock on the outside. A scan showed damage to the suspensory ligament. It healed but that leg always gets filled if he stands in.
He recently had another bout of very bad lymphangitis in that leg, the swelling has not gone completely although he is sound and bucking around in the field. He is 20 years old and pretty much retired now so I'm monitoring it for now.

 

[nutjob]

I had one with lymphangitis which came up very fast and the leg was huge and hot. He could hardly walk. He had IV antibiotics for 5 days, then on powders with cold hosing 3 x a day and walking as soon as he could bear it. I have no idea what caused it but it did go down relatively quickly considering how bad it was at first.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

The leg was definitely big on Monday, but not soo hot. Some swelling went away after walking. The vet came yesterday, and the leg was about the same, maybe slightly larger, and administered meds/left some with me. We walked, some swelling went away.

Today the leg was noticeably less swollen when I first arrived at the yard. We walked for a bit and it looked almost normal afterward. Very little swelling. No heat.

Horse has been his friendly little self this whole time. Eating, drinking, happy to go for walks and do a bit of light trick training. Basically, normal. He started off a wee bit lame at the beginning of our walk and you can tell he favors it a bit when turning, reversing, or getting up from rolling, but is more than happy to walk along at a good pace.

Hopefully we caught it early and it won't be so eventful and that's all it is. ?

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Another update: Metacam was finished on the weekend, and it must taste good because he was literally slurping it out of the syringe. Either that or doing his best to get the treat that followed ? either way, I don't care because he's always easy to medicate.

Antibiotics have now ended as well. So, we'll see what happens.

Still have him on the herbs for a bit (Cleavers and Marigold). Rode 35 min at the walk yesterday, and trotted around just a little bit after that. Still seeming fine.

Handwalked in the forest on the weekend.

So hopefully now that the meds are done, everything continues to go ok.

 

[ycbm]

? that's the end of it.