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  Discussion on Question on Both Back Legs Stocking Up
Author Message
Member:
Aannk

Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2003 - 3:51 pm:

Dr. O.,
My 10 year old TB mare has for the last week been stocking up in both hind legs, from the pastern to about half way up the cannons. It is equal on both sides, and she isn't being kept in, I see it when she comes in from being outside all day.
She is not lame, and the swelling isn't hot, but she seems to be touchy about it (not yanking the leg away, but twitching). Is this a vet call?
I have been riding her on it, and she is going quite well.
She does have a bit of scratches on each back leg, but not too bad, just a few sores. Also, our indoor is very hard right now (I posted about that earlier), and I think that might be doing something to her, but it would make more sense for that to affect the front legs, right?
Any clues?
Alicia
Member:
Reggie

Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2003 - 4:13 pm:

Alicia,

Whenever my guy gets scratches he stalks up. My suggestion is treat the scratches. Get them scrubed off and medicated. I'll bet the legs go right down.

Jean
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Dec 13, 2003 - 9:28 am:

Hello Alicia, our rule of thumb here is anytime you do not know what is going on it is a vet call. However Jean is correct scratches can cause stocking up and this may be a warning it is about to get worse. For more on this see the article on scratches » Equine Diseases » Skin Diseases » Scratches, Grease Heel, Dew Poisoning, & Mud Fever and for other causes of stocking up see, » Equine Diseases » Skin Diseases » Diagnosing and Assessing Swellings in Horses.
DrO
Member:
Aannk

Posted on Monday, Dec 15, 2003 - 11:18 am:

Thanks, I figured that might be it. I have not seen her since Friday now, but I did start more aggressive treatment that day. I have treated it in the past successfully, but she hadn't stocked up from it before, so I didn't associate the scratches with the legs. I will treat as I have in the past. We have had the wettest year almost in history here in the DC area this year, so a lot of our horses are having troubles.
Thanks!
Alicia
Member:
Aannk

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 17, 2003 - 1:14 pm:

Just wanted to let everyone know, her legs are fine now. I put antibiotic cream on the scratches, and that seemed to be all it took (swelling went down in one day). I will continue to keep her legs dry and medicated.
Thanks!
Member:
Cmitch

Posted on Monday, Feb 14, 2005 - 2:47 pm:

We had a horse boarding at our farm that would stock up quite badly. Like you, it wasn't b/c he was kept in, as a matter of fact, we found it better when he was in. It turns out he was eating these "Osage oranges"--sp?? that were falling off the trees in the pasture. As soon as we cleaned them out of the pasture, he hasn't stocked up since. We lucked out b/c the owner took him to her place on the weekends, where he wouldn't do it, and then we made the connection that he didn't stock up when IN on a rainy day at our place. Otherwise, we never would ave known. So, weeds and other things in the pasture could cause it as well.
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