Getting rid of fluid filling a horses leg from the Hock to the Hoof?

Question

The horse injured his tendon sheath 4 months ago and his leg is still swollen up like a ballon with fluid. He has a bar fitted to his shoe to take pressure off his tendons and is on 4 bute a day. He is still very lame and shows no signs of getting better. We are starting to lose hope. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

They horse is being treated by the best Equine Vet in N.Ireland and gets scans eveyr couple of weeks, he says that he is improving but they swelling hasn't gone down yet.

Answer 1

To reduce the swelling, try cold hosing for about 10 minutes, twice a day followed by a massage to get the circulation going again. I would get an equine physiontherapist or your vet to come and work out an appropriate massage technique/ how hard you massage to ensure you don't cause any damage. The cold hosing is like putting ice on the leg. If your horse won't stand for being hosed then go to boots or somewhere similar and get a couple of ice packs that go in the freezer then stay cold for ages. Put them over the injury and use stable bandages to keep them in place for 10 or 15 minutes - this might also be the better option if your have restricted time that you can spend with the horse as he can be standing having the ice therapy while you muck out or groom. This worked really well on my sister's horse who injured his fetlock - he is fine with the hose but gets cracked heels and he was hurt in the winter so lots of hosing is bad. This allowed us to treat the injury without causeing more porblems. Also, depending upon what the vet has said regarding exercise, could you walk him out in hand for 10 or 15 minutes every day, again to get the circulation going as that is what will help to disperse the fluid.
Don't lose hope with him, tendon injuries take forever to heal - you could be looking at 6 to 12 months before he starts to be sound, but persevere and let him heal. The other option is you could talk to your vet about possible surgery - I don't know if it would be suitable for your horse's injury, but I would discuss it with your vet, and maybe ask him about getting a referal to a specialist at one of the major teaching vet hospitals such as the Royal Dick Veterinary School in Edinburgh. These places have much more specialised equipment for both imaging and treatment, as well as some of the best vets in the country who, like a hospital doctor, will have a speciality, unlike regular vets, who as wonderful as they may be are a bit more like a GP is in that they have to know enough about most things to treat most patients.

Good Luck getting your horse's leg healed.

Answer 2

first off sympathies with your injury.. regarding the swelling one of my mares suffered something similar and I found the following really worked to bring it down that bit quicker:
Hose the leg with cold water for about ten minutes. Put the horse back in stable and allow it to dry - once it is dry massage the leg up and down with your hands using an arnica cream - you can buy this in any health shop. Each night apply a mask to the leg - the name escapes me now but you'll get it in your tack shop - you basically heat the stuff in hot water and rub it onto the leg - it dries forming a cement like barrier to the leg - it will wash off when you repeat the process every day.
I can recommend the massaging downwards as very helpful. You may never fully get the leg down depending on the intensity of the swelling but so long as he comes right it doesnt matter - my mares injury's swelling developed into a condition called lynphingytis which is basically a constant swelling and although it looks unsightly shes sound as a pound and jumping her heart out.
Wishing your horse a speedy recovery.
xx

Answer 3

I wish i could help you with this ,
but,
the only sensible advice, i can give, is for you
to go back to your vet, for further treatment

or, for a second opinion ,
on the treatment all ready given .
from another, equine specialist vet ,

I wish you and your horse all the best

I do so hope, your horse pulls through this .

>^,,^<

Answer 4

If your horse is being treated by the best vet in N Ireland, give the vet a call, a message board is not the best place to ask medical diagnostics or treatment for serious injuries. Any Joe Blow could be answering your question and give you false information which could be more damaging than good for your horse

Answer 5

i assume you have a vet treating the horse if not see one
or

GET another vet

Answer 6

With dogs we use drain tubes.

Why can't they do that with your horse.