Why are my horses fetlocks swollen?
Puffy hind fetlocks aren’t necessarily a sign of injury. Most likely it’s just “stocking up.” Swollen joints are always cause for concern, but if both of your horse’s hind fetlocks become puffy after a period of inactivity, chances are the cause is a relatively harmless condition known as “stocking up.”
Can a horse recover from fractured fetlock?
The outlook for recovery in large fractures at the base of the fetlock bone is poor, regardless of the treatment. Very severe damage to the suspensory ligaments, including fracture of both sesamoid bones, is a catastrophic injury and can cause a compromise of blood flow to the foot.
How can you tell if a horse’s skin is swollen?
It is difficult to detect the redness of inflammation with the highly pigmented skin of most horses so swelling, heat, and pain are the hallmarks in horses. Not all swellings are inflammatory. Noninflammatory swellings are no different in temperature than the surrounding non-swollen areas and are not painful.
What do you call swelling in the fetlock of a horse?
A. Fluid-filled swellings in the rear aspect of the tendon/fetlock area—called “windpuffs,” or synovial effusion of the tendon sheath—are a common condition in horses.
What does it mean when a horse’s pastern is swollen?
The pastern provides two opportunities for joint-associated swellings. When the pastern joint is involved, the condition is called high ringbone. The bulge appears one to two inches above the coronet, usually with the greatest swelling on the pastern’s front surface.
When to call the vet about a lump on your horse?
A new lump or bump is much more likely to be a problem than one that’s been there forever—especially if the old lump has never caused a problem in the past. Carefully examine your horse every time you groom him, and be familiar with his normal presentation.
The pastern provides two opportunities for joint-associated swellings. When the pastern joint is involved, the condition is called high ringbone. The bulge appears one to two inches above the coronet, usually with the greatest swelling on the pastern’s front surface.
What causes swelling in the back of the horse’s leg?
Puffy, fluid-filled swellings along the backside of the hind limbs (called “windpuffs”) does not usually cause a problem. They generally are not accompanied by heat, pain, or lameness. However, swelling of the tendon sheath in only one leg typically indicates a problem and can lead to lameness.
A new lump or bump is much more likely to be a problem than one that’s been there forever—especially if the old lump has never caused a problem in the past. Carefully examine your horse every time you groom him, and be familiar with his normal presentation.
What causes a bulge on a horse’s Coronet?
The bulge appears one to two inches above the coronet, usually with the greatest swelling on the pastern’s front surface. Low ringbone affects the coffin joint, with the lumpiness appearing at the coronet, most often in the toe region.