Wind Galls- Treatment?

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KatB

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Lucky got a little bit over exhuberant whilst "talking" to another horse over the electric fence the other night, and struck out with a front leg, pulling a strand of fencing down as she did. She has no sign of injury on that leg, and is perfectly sound, going for long hacks forthe last 2 days afte doing it.

However, I noticed last night she has a tiny (and I mean about the size of half a pea) windgall swelling on her front leg. There is no heat and it's not painful when I press it, but obviously I am a bit concerned about ANY obnormalities on a leg ;)

Has anyone got any ideas of the best way to treat them, or any wonder cures? :) Would you be concerned?

Many thanks,
 
Are you sure it's a windgall..? Any puffiness in that area concerns me, although if you watch it over a few days and it appears to go up and down according to whether they've been stood in/ out in field and worked or not, and also whether it's warm or cool weather wise then it wouldn't worry me so much. If it is constantly the same and has just appeared then I'd be inclined to get it investigated, particularly a front leg.

I had a horse going back a few years who had a failry large windgall on his front leg and that used to vay enormously in size due to any of the above factors.
 
She lives out at the moment, and it was there last night, but I didnt notice it after work on Tuesday. It is definitely fluid as it is very soft, and there are no abnormalities anywhere else in the leg. I do check the legs every evening, and this was the first time I have noticed it...
 
You sounds like me - I also check legs every day..! If it is a windgall, they are usually just a blemish and mostly don't cause any problems, it's just being sure it is. As long as she is sound, I'd just keep an eye on it and see if it changes. I'm sure you'll get other replies though too, so see what other people have to say. :)
 
Haha! It's a habit that was drummed into me when I worked with horses :) I am slightly paranoid though ;) I may start putting her magnotherapy boots on in the day... just then worry about overheating and rubbing! ARGH!! Horses, who'd have them?!! Thanks for your advice :)
 
Millie has a small windgall on her back fetlock.

umming and arghing about magnetic boots, same as you, worried about heating the legs!
 
Pleased mine isn't the only young horse with one! I know, it's a difficult one. I may just monitor and bandage her if and when she comes in at night again :)
 
My mare has had windgalls behind since she was 5. I don't know her history between ages 4 and 5 as she was at a rescue centre from a foal, and loaned out during that period. I've known her since she was 5 though (now 12) and they have never caused a problem - I've given up trying to do anything to them tbh. They come up when it is hot or the ground is hard, but in cold weather they go right down and practically disappear (snow is wonderful for that!)

Sorry - no magic cures from this corner - I tried bandaging and still do sometimes if she is in for an extended period but it doesn't seem to help much tbh :(
 
Thanks milliepops. I think it may have been exasperated by the fact the ground has got a bit harder and she hoons around in her field!!! Pleased they';ve never caused a problem for you though :)
 
They are still irritating though, I do feel your pain! Also every now and then people on here come up with horror stories about windgalls, and I do think that they must have appeared for a reason. However, as they have always been non symptomatic, I'm not about to start fiddling about with them ;)
 
Yeah thats my worry, that they may be there as a result of something else going on! Argh :( Hopefully not. If my paranoia gets the better of me I may get my vet to have a peek :)
 
Sounds like some kind of synovial fluid settling. Nothing much to worry about. Ice cup it for a few days (much more beneficial than cold hosing) and if the horse is not lame exercise/magnotherapy boots should shift it a little.
 
Wind galls are the synovial (joint) fluid leaking out into the surrounding tissue. It's not the wind galls themselves that are a problem but the underlying issue within the joint that has caused them to form.
 
i feed clivers for windgalls it helps the lymphatic system and helps reduce puffiness in legs. get it off ebay shops.
Also I use bioflow boots - she lives out and wears that on fronts at night and backs during day.
Her windgalls come up beginning april and down sept - basically warm weather they are there - cold weather lovely clean legs!!
 
I had great effects with bandaging at night with gamgee and stable bandages and slathering the legs with Ice cold the blue stuff from carr/day/martin.

Kia had a cracking big windgall after his accident that the vet told me would be there now but I managed to get rid of it permanently with the above every day for about two months. Two years on and I havent had to do it again not even after hard work.

Nikki xxxx
 
Lovely, thanks guys. Have been cold hosing, and put her on MSM to see if that helps with the inflammation. Can't bandage as she is out 24/7, and don't want to bring her in as she will hoon about even more if she has a break from being turned out, and it is hooning which has caused them!!
 
Cosmetic blemishes and unlikely to cause problems, so bandage if you must, feed Clivers, cold hose - but please, DO NOT have them injected with steroids.

A promising young show horse lost her life to laminitis at five years old because vanity got the better of people... Criminal.
 
brighteyes said:
Cosmetic blemishes and unlikely to cause problems, so bandage if you must, feed Clivers, cold hose - but please, DO NOT have them injected with steroids.

A promising young show horse lost her life to laminitis at five years old because vanity got the better of people... Criminal.
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Have no fear Brighteyes, I am merely concerned because of possible causes, and treating the cause, not bothered by the cosmetic appearance :) Injecting steroids into a young horses legs is never going to end well :(
 
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