His Limping Badly (Urgent Advice)

Today I went out to see Chinga and he liped over to me, the weather has not been great so naturally I though he'd loosened yet anothe shoe. I took him up the top and tied him up, then went on a hoof pick hunt. I got out my hoof pick and had no problem all his shoes were in perfect place and tight. So then I felt his legs. One place on his front left leg was slightly warm so I iced it for half an hour. Then I got him to do three strides of trot so I could actually get a look at him moving and see if I can pick it up. To me it looked like the limp was in the actual leg. So I fed him and then iced his leg for another 20 minutes. Before I had to go, so now if he has not improved or the limp is still the slightest bit there I will be getting a vet out for sure! But I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on what may be going on and what I can do untill the vet arrives. Also have I done the right things?
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I'm going on MSN :( I'm thinking abcess or perhaps a strain? I'll talk to you on there.

Thanks Sarah, its in the leg for sure. When I watch him its like his limping in the leg, not the foot? If that makes any sence. I'm hoping that its nothing serious but if he hasn't improved at all by the morning the vet will be getting a call because I am really worried! I sat with him for half an hour crying, I'm so worried about him.

Did you feel up and down his leg for any abnormalities? Is he pastured with other horses he could have gotten a kick or sprained it playing in the field. Whereabouts in the leg is the swelling? Is it hard/soft? Ice is good for swellings so keep icing him twice a day for half an hour each time. Does he have to stay out or can he be stabled?

How does one tell it is the leg causing the pain and not the hoof?

Most acute lameness with out an obvious cause is a hoof abscess. An abscess can cause the leg to swell.

Your best bet is to call your vet. In your original post you said you were having the vet out for sure. In your second post you said if he is not better you will call the vet...... If it truly is a leg injury then I would think getting the vet out sooner is probably for the best.

Im on my phone so I can't really reply but what I meant is that if his not 100% perfect the vet will be out. Actualy eaither way the vet will be out. As for the pain in the leg not foot it looked like he was limping in the leg not the foot, I cannt explain this it was just the way it looked. Maybe because his limp was so big!
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A horse with a hoof abscess can be total not weight bearing on that leg.

The way you say it, it sounds like you think that if they are really limping it can not be the hoof.

He stays out, there is no swelling (I can't see where I mentioned that?). His leg looks/feels completly normal apart from the small amount of warmness (fetlock). Untill I can get the vet out (hopefully in the morning). I will be making sure I check his leg as much as I can and icing it until it eaither cools down or I get futher advice from a vet.
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I am just saying that it looked like it was the leg from the way that he limped but then I added in that since it was such a large limp thathe was limping differently to he usually does (when he throws shoes). Although that too would be from uneven footing and not pain. This is the first time I have delt with something like this and I was just trying to give as much detail as possible. Sorry for the confusion.
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Hoof abscess can make a horse appear broken-bone lame. Sometimes they won't even bear any weight on it. I have seen horses with fractured knees walk better than a horse with an abscess about to blow. And yes, it can cause swelling in the leg. Is their heat in the leg, and if so where? Is there heat in the foot? Compare heat in the lame side with heat on the sound side. Pay special attention to the heels. You mentioned that he had issues keeping shoes on, so it makes me think there might be something in the foot like a quick nail, gravel etc.
Anyways, good that yiou are having the vet out. Hope it goes ok and it is nothing major.