Thinking caps on please- leg injury

Cadfael&Coffee

Cadfael&Coffee

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Just over 2 weeks ago rob came in with a huge back leg.

Vet told me to box rest him as he thought it was his tendon. Came back a week later to scan it, both the tendon and ligament are fine (it's the lower part of the tendon above the fetlock which is huge)

Told me to box rest then turn out.

Leg is almost but not quite normal size when bandaged, is huge when not and gets a bit smaller when super cold and hosed.

He went out two days ago, after Another weeks box rest and when he comes in it is nearly normal size, but not quite. It then gets bigger over night again.

Vet doesn't think it's an infection because if it's behaviour.

Any thoughts? Any at all???

He told me to get back on him and see if walking him out helps- what's your opinions on this?

(btw, he is an older experienced vet who I trust)

Biiiigggg cup of chai latte if u got this far!!!
 
Sounds to me like Lymphangitis (sp) basically the lymph glands in the lower leg swell up due to poor circulation, hence the puffy legs. How old is your horse? Its quite common in older horses, goes down if worked, turned out as movement helps pump blood etc, also bandaging and cold hosing helps. Also normally only on back legs, as these are the futhest from the heart.
 
Healing legs will swell - and it's usual for them to go down with exercise. Similarly when stood in they will fill again.
 
I would say this is a definite contender then as the cause. It can just happen in one leg. I knew a very old horse who suffered with it, and he was still worked full time, and put out as often as possible to help with the swelling. Speak to your vet about it, and see what they say. I would work as normal, if he is in at night, may be think about putting some bandages on to help with the swelling and during the summer you cold hose his legs for a little while when its hot.
there is no reason why he can't have a normal working life!
 
Ok that sounds hopeful.

Only thing is, the day he did it it happened because another horse was running him around the field in a wall of death through a deep bog at a gallop (they ran through the fence) and his back end slipped so badly that his back end went from under him a few times?

I know healing legs swell, but his don't normally stay swollen for this long. He has a tiny cut down the side is all, it should have gone down by now- especially with twice daily hosing an I've been using event clay too.

If it is the lymph- Thingy is it worth trying danilon at all?
 
I know healing legs swell, but his don't normally stay swollen for this long. He has a tiny cut down the side is all, it should have gone down by now- especially with twice daily hosing an I've been using event clay too.

If it is the lymph- Thingy is it worth trying danilon at all?
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Two weeks is no time at all.

If it is lymphangitis (unlikely) then you will need the vet and antibiotics.
 
It is a little tender, but nt hugely so.

I did ring the vet and spoke to him and he didn't really want to give me antibiotics as he didn't think he needs them??

Should I follow his advice and try walking him out?

It definately improves with movement, but annoyingly I can't have him out at night ATM :(
 
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