[Shannonnn]

Hey all,
My TB came up with a swollen back right leg last Monday. I didn't call a vet out, as he had the same thing back in April and it cost me $$$$$ just to be given bute as a final result of all the X-rays and checks.
The vet gave me 4 days worth of bute on Monday and that brought down all the swelling, aside from his hock, which still looks swollen. There is a little bit of heat in it but he is showing very little lameness and have been told he was still running around fine last night.

The vet X rayed him last time and suspected it was the start of arthritis- he is an ex racehorse so I'm not surprised (he is only 8 years old though) . What can I give him to bring that swelling down and treat it effectively? What supplement do all you horsey folk use (keep in mind I live in Australia) to assist with this.
I love my darling to bits but we only have 1 vet clinic in town that treat horses, so the bills are criminal. Even just a consult is outrageously priced

**** I will try and add a photo tomorrow when I see him. I didn't have my phone on me this afternoon***
Thanks in advance

 

[QtrBel]

A photo would help. If this has gone on as long as you say and the bute has not alleviating all of the swelling then may be time to place another call to the vet. Have you cold hosed? Applied lineament? Started a joint supplement. There are several on the market - not sure what is available to you in Australia. Is he resting or allowed free run? Is he running and playing or staying at a walk, poking around and visibly lame?

 

[beau159]

Pretty impossible to tell what's going on over the internet.

He could have a capped hock (from hitting his hock on something).

He could have arthritis .... although if he showing fluid on the hock from arthritis, then it's going to be pretty significant arthritis (and not just the "start").

But you are saying his whole leg is swollen too? But since the bute, only the hock is still swollen?

Have you been icing or cold hosing the leg? (You said heat is present.)

Kind of depends what's wrong with the hock. Sometimes confinement is best (if they strained something, you don't want them straining it further) but sometimes turnout and movement is good to keep the swelling under control. If you are not sure what you are dealing with, it's hard to come up with a treatment plan.

 

[Shannonnn]

It might not be as obvious in this photo, as the swelling has finally started to go down a wee bit more. (It is the leg on the left hand side of the photo)
I have been cold hosing it when I get the chance, it's been difficult working full time and my current roster has me finishing well after dark so I'm only hosing once a day.

He is moving around normal, just seems a bit stiff now.After talking to the horse nutritionist at my local feed shop, her initial thought was that it could be a sign of big head. Makes sense given the grass in my area- it's a very common problem unfortunately. I've been giving him bone formula for this but I've been told to double the amount and go from there.
I also bought tuffrock today, it is supposed to aid in reducing the inflammation. I'm hoping it works like it claims.

He doesn't seem all that bothered by his leg anymore. It's more me worrying because he's my baby. Tonight his leg didn't seem to have heat in it. Although it was hard to tell as it was 42 degrees Celsius today.

He has free roam of his paddock. He gets very upset and anxious when I lock him up so in this case, he is safer in his paddock. The last time I had him locked up, he hurt himself trying to escape.

The other issue of my local vet, is that they misdiagnose a lot, I could call them out and have him looked at, but it still may not even address the issue. They said last time his leg was arthritic and there was some sort of small loose bone fragments however, they changed their tune last night when I asked for advice & said they couldn't see anything wrong in the X-ray. So I'm at at a loose end here. I'm thinking of calling in a leg specialist next time he visits. But that could be another 6 months away, soooo frustrating.

 

[LoriF]

If I find any swelling in my horses legs which I never do anymore. Unless it's an accute injury, I will rest them and cold hose their legs for about three days with something to take the swelling away. If there is no improvement by the 2nd or 3rd day, I am calling the orthopedic specialist. Calling my regular vet for this stuff is pointless and a waste of dollars.

I went through this with my mare when she seriously injured her hock. I just wasted money on the local vet and got bad advice to boot. Thankfully I had enough sense to know that what they said to do was not quite right and called the specialist right away. This was a bad injury that took a little over a year and a half to heal. A lot of stuff happened from the beginning to end based on what she needed as it healed.

 

[horselovinguy]

Your horse has significant swelling from stifle to coronet band when you look and compare leg to leg.
So you "noticed" the swelling on Monday, because of the amount it was very apparent...
So now back up and try to figure out when it happened and what might of occurred and with that "guess" do you want to call in the vet or not....
I don't think your self treating is answering the issue though honestly...
Cold hosing done a few times a day might help more but understand that life gets in the way...

I look at it this way...
It is now probably a week since that "injury" took place and the body has not resolved the issue on its own...it probably is a good idea to get a set of eyes on it.
How close have you looked for scrapes, missing hair, puncture marks?
Did you see uncharacteristic dirt on a body part that would correlate with a slip, fall, twist of limb?
Did you notice in the paddock any areas of churned up ground? What about in the stall?
Has the horse rolled and cast or banged a fence rolling in the last few days?
Some serious thinking of what have you noticed different in the environment would be my first thought...
Then add in seen disruption to the bodies looks and you might figure it out.

I would be hesitant to take out to much swelling as the discomfort can also be a deterrent for the horse to run, buck, fart and play to hard creating more issue...
If it were just the hock...I would of said consider a sweat but this is not just a hock but a entire leg affected and no...there is a reason swelling exists yet, a bodies natural defense against something injured. Add in heat...something is happening for sure.
The weekend is fast approaching and so is the Christmas Holiday...time to decide if you call now and pay for a scheduled farm call or wait and if this doesn't resolve you may face holiday emergent fees added on to the bill...
Me...it has till Thursday to resolve completely now you are trying all these extra remedies...
However,
It is near a week already since it happened...still swollen leg....my fingers would be awaiting dialing the vet for help.

You also think it is a possible calcium deficiency from your pasture....
So why now does it show?
Did you just put the horse on pasture, take away his feed fortified with vitamins & minerals...
Something changed you did for this to suddenly arrive on the horse...
Again, decipher, look and go back over the last week and see where you did differently that upset the balance this horse needs...
Then figure a way to correct it.
If you did nothing different...then it is a visit from the vet time.
:runninghorse2:.....
jmo...