Yearling with swollen back tendon on fore

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Dry Rot

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I have the farrier coming tomorrow to look at a lame yearling. I've just been out to check her and the hoof seems OK but I noticed the tendon behind the foreleg is quite swollen. Any clues so I don't worry until morning?

I don't think she has caught it on anything but might have had a kick. She is a tall gangly Highland, not a heavy type. She is inclined to intermittent lameness but last time it was a hind, then a few weeks before that this same foot but diagnosed by a new farrier as an abcess that had just cleared by itself. She is putting weight on the foot but is obviously uncomfortable and is limping quite badly.
 
It should most certainly be contained to prevent further damage, and given Danilon, which is a vet prescription drug, though most people like to have some on hand rather than an out of hours call out. A farrier is not a vet, and he should advise you to seek a veterinary diagnosis. This should indeed be treated as a serious issue.
Cold hosing may not be that easy on a youngster, either way, best to keep company with a quiet older horse. You may find Animalintox will help.
 
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I've just been down to check on the pony and unrelated lameness in a back leg isn't unrelated after all. That also has swelling around the ligaments in the lower leg (cannon flexor tendons) which we would have missed as we were convinced it was a hoof problem. Until recently, she was a bit fussy about having her feet handled but we worked on it. Fortunately, she is being very well behaved and letting me handle her legs. Farrier is due in half an hour and, as he is very experienced, I am sure I will get good advice. Yes, the pony is now in the round pen and will be put into the field shelter later. She usually bombs around like all youngsters but is very long in the leg so presumably the tendons have been subjected to excessive strain. She is also on lusher pasture than I would choose as the grass has suddenly taken a spurt. I might chat to the vet later but agree, probably nothing he can do immediately so won't call him out.
 
JanetGeorge said:
Mmmm - I'm miserly - so I would be containing - in stable or small yard - and give 3 days of bute and cold hosing. No improvement - then definitely the vet. But some youngsters love getting knocks and bumps and playing them up to worry you sick!
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This, but not because I am miserly, the vet would 99% prescribe box rest and cold treatment, bute and wait and see. That is, if there is no skin lesion, scabs etc. I twice had charlie Horse scanned for what later turned out to be mud fever! Even the vet was convinced the tendon was damaged, but no, he then came out in scabs.

If the tendon is damaged they generally can't scan until the initial inflammation has gone down anyway, so I would do the rest and cold, and if it does not improve then vet for scans. It does also depend on how lame she is, if very lame then vet anyway, if only for bute prescription.
 
Panic over! Apparently, when Keith Hedley got my message he said, "It'll be an abcess". One of his boys has been out and confirmed the diagnosis. Huge sigh of relied from me! Thanks everyone who advised. The sore hind is apparently because she will be putting more weight on that one to compensate. I have absolute trust in these guys because they are sorting out horses' feet 7 days a week and the boss farrier is a bit of a legend up here. I've also been instructed to leave the pony in the herd as gentle exercise (while grazing) will help disipate the infection which is causing the swelling further up the leg. Phew!
 
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