Windgall Experience Anyone? Should I be Worried??? (long!!)

ElvisandTilly

ElvisandTilly

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Yesterday after schooling my 7 year old gelding I noticed on his off hind slight swelling in the usual windgall area. This swelling is only small in size, not hot and certainly no lameness. Its in the area of an articular windgall and is only on the inside but if pressed the fluid goes to the outer side. It did get slightly bigger after exercise tonight.

He doesn't have any windgalls or swelling on any of his other legs so bit worried about swelling on just the one leg. If awindgall I would have expected them to be on both hind legs?

He had a week off after having his freezemark redone and has been worked for a week since but only light work. We did gallop through a stubble field last Sunday but he was fine after and I certainly hadn't noticed the swelling till last night. He is always spinning and messing around in the field so he could have done it at anytime!!!
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Whats the best treatment? Field rest, box rest? Still work him but in walk? Bute? (he has had 2 sachets tonight) All the advice read on the internet says they are nothing to worry about? He isn't covered by the insurance for his backs legs so why couldn't it be on a front leg!!! Typical!!!
 
Do NOT have them injected with steroids. They are mostly innocuous and forgettable swellings (I hesitate to call them blemishes) and unless they cause any problems, leave them alone.

I person I know has just lost a young and upcoming show horse due to its windgalls being injected and the medication precipitated a common sequela to the use of steroids in joints. Totally unnecessary and the pointless loss of a very handsome animal.

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Windgalls are synovial fluid leaking out of a damaged joint. So they are a symptom of an underlying problem rather than being the problem itself. Usually they present no real problems or lameness and tend to come and go. I'd leave them strictly alone unless there is a sudden and unexpected lameness. Do be aware that they are there though because they ARE an indication of an underlying problem that may rear its head later.
 
I'd agree that a lot of windgalls are harmless, BUT sometimes they aren't, so monitor it closely. In particular if it goes firmer or there is any sign of discomfort or lameness, get the vet to check and scan, as it can be an indication as Box of Frogs says of an underlying problem, often the annular ligament constricting because of a tendon injury underneath.

I had my mare's unusual windgall checked in the September 07 by my vet, who said it was "just" a windgall and at that time she wasn't lame - November 07 she had a very constricted and enlarged annular ligament and a hole on her SDFT..............2 years later and some big vet bills, a year off, six months rehabilitation and lame again and just starting another try at rehabilitating her, but in reality a normal riding/competitive career is now pretty much over.
 
Thank you all for the helpful replies, much appreciated.

It has reduced slightly tonight so it is responding to bute, cool gel and rest. It certainly isn't hot and he isn't lame or sore when moving and touching the area. My only worry was it was just the one leg on the medial side between cannon and suspensory rather than the tendon at the back.

I shall bute and rest him for the week then reassess it and if no improvement I shall get the vet out to check. Shall certainly be careful what treatment they suggest and about taking them up on it.
 
msm reduces the size of these my horse had huge ones but now have reduced to little lumps now he had them fourteen years never a problem
 
I've just recently had my horse to the vets because of pain in her back and she is very very slightly lame behind. The vet noticed there was extra swelling around her windgalls (which she has had for a long time) and turns out she has Lateral Suspensory Ligament Desmitis - not too worried about it and she is going to receive shock wave treatment and hopefully will be ok in the next 6 weeks?
You know your own horse though, and would know if he was any different than normal. x
 
Kizzy had a windgall for some time on left fore, vet checked & said if she went lame or it got hard to get it checked. It went slightly firmer over time, no lameness. Had an infection in that leg 2 weeks ago, so vet scanned to check for infection in tendon sheath & found a thickened annular ligament was responsible for the windgall. Took her in to Liphook to get sorted before it deteriorated too far & to avoid tendon damage. Vet at Liphook found a tear in her SDFT which hadn't shown up on any of the 3 scans, too low down the pastern. Thank goodness for the infection, she wasn't lame & we wouldn't have found it till it tore completely. He thinks she'll recover, so really I wouldn't be too careful.
 
Good news. The swelling is going down and is currently just a tiny lump! Since Saturday he has been on equine america glucasamine 10,000 and MSM so either I'm a very lucky person or this stuff has worked!!! Relieved I am!!! Thank you all for your helpful posts.
 
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