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  Discussion on Swollen RF lower leg
Author Message
Member:
Cheryl

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 11, 2006 - 10:02 am:

When I went out yesterday morning my 28 yo mare was standing three legged, resting her RF on the toe. I palpated from her shoulder down her leg and could elicit no tenderness. A few minutes later, I saw her standing square, resting her LH.
That evening, she was again standing three legged and inspection showed the back of the leg, from the knee down swollen. When she walks it's a very painful barely touch the ground, jerk it up, walk. Last night I hosed it while she ate and then wrapped the leg. She appears the same this morning. Would DMSO be helpful? Is there anything else I can do for her? Should she be stalled so she cant's walk around? Right now she is in about a 20X20 pen. Any help will be appreciated.
Cheryl
Member:
Scooter

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 11, 2006 - 11:30 am:

Hi Cheryl, it sure sounds like it could be a hoof abscess. Have you hoof tested her or checked for heat and pulses in the hoof? Read Dr.O.'s article on them. They can make the leg swell.
Member:
Cheryl

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 11, 2006 - 1:30 pm:

Thanks, Diane. I had no idea a hoof abscess would cause the leg to swell. I'm leaning against the abscess because she will stand on the leg to rest a back leg or now her LF - which is her weakest leg. I'm hoping to figure out some pain relief for her before she ends up doing damage to her LF with all the added weight bearing.
Cheryl
Member:
Scooter

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 11, 2006 - 1:49 pm:

Hi cheryl, they have to rest the sore leg occasionally with an abscess, it might be worth checking for heat and a digital pulse to rule it out. If she is toe standing, my guess is IF it was an abscess it probably is in the heel area. Hope you find out what is wrong. When my gelding had his abscess, a few days before it blew out in 3 different places, his leg swelled almost to the knee. I am sure Dr.O. can give you advice on what else it could be. Good Luck
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 11, 2006 - 9:39 pm:

Bute is your best bet Cheryl but if it is an abscess and that is highly suspect, it will only help minimally until the abscess is drained. Antibiotics might give more temporary relief if it an abscess but will not fix it. For more on the first aid of this horses see, Diseases of Horses » Lameness » First Aid for the Lame Horse.
DrO
Member:
Cheryl

Posted on Thursday, Jul 13, 2006 - 8:09 am:

Thanks, Dr. O. I stopped the hosing and am soaking in hot water. Don't know what else to do for her. Have been trying to get a farrier out. I have not been able to feel any heat in her foot but her ankle is hot. You are probably right about the abscess - she's had two before - but with no swelling in the leg. Will keep trying to get the farrier out.
Cheryl
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jul 14, 2006 - 7:12 am:

Better might be to get your vet out Cheryl just in case there is something else going on. We can make a best guess here but diagnosis should be done by someone who can examine the horse.
DrO
Member:
Cheryl

Posted on Friday, Jul 14, 2006 - 8:11 am:

He will be out this morning. I was able to elicit a flinch with the the pressure of my thumb on the inside sole. These Vet visits have to stop - routine teeth - then Lady had to have two teeth pulled - then Fox foundered - checked for insulin deficiency - she is - now Lady with an abscess. Much more of this and I'll be living in the barn eating hay with the horses.
Thanks for the help. Even though it's a crunch with the vet bills it's still much better than a tendon injury.
Cheryl
Member:
Cheryl

Posted on Friday, Jul 14, 2006 - 4:05 pm:

Dr. O,
Dr. Brown was here this afternoon. He pared enough off Lady's foot to find extensive bruising but couldn't find an indication of an abscess. Hoof testers reviled pain over all the area surrounding her frog. There was slight reaction to squeezing on the sides of her foot. He didn't want to remove any more of the sole since she has very thin soles and didn't want to make matters worse. He thought was the possibility of a fractured coffin bone. He suggested soaking in hot epsom salts once a day. Also could not explain the swelling - no tenderness in the leg and the swelling is triangular shaped coming up the back of her leg. He said the tendon sheath was definitely not sore. The pain in her foot appears to have decreased considerably. The first day she was really hesitant to take a step. She is now walking around - still very visibly lame - but just removing the callus over the area improved her ease in walking. Any thoughts?
Thanks, Cheryl
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Jul 15, 2006 - 7:31 am:

When it rains it pours Cheryl. Let us know what develops but the degree of lameness and swelling sure suggest an abscess to me.
DrO
Member:
Cheryl

Posted on Thursday, Jul 20, 2006 - 2:55 pm:

Thought I would do an up-date. I had soaked her foot for two days 2X day - in hot epsom salts water. Used a diaper taped over the hoof to keep it clean. On the third morning she was walking sound, no swelling. I searched the hoof on the bottom and around the coronary band looking for a place the abscess may have blown. Could find absolutely nothing. I'm sure both you and Diane are correct and that it was an abscess. Thanks for the input.
Cheryl
Member:
Scooter

Posted on Thursday, Jul 20, 2006 - 6:32 pm:

Good news Cheryl, I am glad your mare is better.
Member:
Djws

Posted on Friday, Jul 21, 2006 - 1:33 am:

I'm happy for you,too! This is how my Beau started out.all of your gal's symptoms. Ended up not being an abcess, but tendosynovitis, that progressed (he wasn't sore in his tendon area to touch either-just swollen). Our ending was not good...glad to hear that your mare is sound! Keep an eye on her!
Member:
Cheryl

Posted on Friday, Jul 21, 2006 - 7:50 am:

Thanks, DJ. She's my Thelwell Pony look-a-like. She's separated from the other two horses because they really push her around and I don't think she needs that. She's back to her normal self - taking off when I come in with the fly spray in the evening (but stops when I grab her tail(G)) Absolutely sound now and eating like crazy. I have a new farrier coming this afternoon. Maybe he will be able to find something. He's a barefoot trimmer recommended by my Vet -so am keeping my fingers crossed.
I was so sorry to read about Beau. I had to put down my once in a life horse several years ago. It was by far the hardest thing I have ever had to do.
Cheryl
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