Leg swelling/ cellulitis update

[Deleted]

Pretty disappointed to report that after another week of bandaging his legs when stabled, I tried a night without last night and his legs swelled a lot, much worse than last week

Thankfully he wasn't sore so we went out for a walking hack as the vets have said as much movement as possible is best.

Just spoke to the vet and he suggested trying tubi-grips and leaving them on 24/7 for a week (obviously checking for rubs etc) as they'll provide more even pressure.

He also told me what I really didn't want to hear: that some horses have permanent damage caused by the swelling which causes their legs to fill when stabled for the rest of their lives. In those cases you have to bandage their legs when stabled, because if you don't the pooling of fluid in the limbs makes them more prone to infection. Gutted

[mandal]

I'm sorry Michellep. The stabling ie. restriction in his movement, is also something his body hasn't been used to for a while. I have always wondered about the leg swelling and whether there was a link with cellulitis. I read so often of horses with swollen legs when stabled.
Are you going to try the tubigrip?

[marvin]

My first horse has cellulitus and after he got it the first time it would happen on and off for the rest of his life sometimes it must have been painful, I used tubigrip which seemed to help except on the really bad days when it got quite large all the way up his leg. movement got rid of it so out as much as possible will help reduce it.

[Deleted]

mandal, I don't know if him having been living out for so long beforehand would make any difference, he'd been stabled at night for 5 weeks with no swelling or issues at all until the cellulitis.

I've just been and bought some tubigrip to try, I've got nothing to lose, it'll be quicker to put on and leave than bandages on each night and off each morning.

marvin, my vet's advice from day 1 was that as long as he's comfortable he needs as much movement as possible. It's just s**'s law that he managed to get cellulitis just after I moved him off grass livery and onto part and stabled at night!!

[Lulu]

Tea is a diuretic, so good for swollen limbs, so I've been told... Maybe try some warm tea added to his dinner ? feedmark has a supplement I think for water retention ?

[antares]

Oh no Michelle, poor talin.

I have no constructive advice, just to say that I am sure talin will get the best of care and you will find the best way to manage it for him.

[mandal]

Dec 11, 2012 14:59:39 GMT 1 @michellep said:

mandal, I don't know if him having been living out for so long beforehand would make any difference, he'd been stabled at night for 5 weeks with no swelling or issues at all until the cellulitis.

Ok. I was also musing if swelling/cellulitis could work both ways but wasn't very clear. Cellulitis = prone to swelling and swelling (filled legs) could possibly = prone to cellulitis?

[companymagic]

Poor Talin and poor you.. I don't know that much about the condition but would magnet therapy be worth a try to promote blood circulation to his effect leg ?

I used this on my old boy's in the past (for healing) with great success and have a large sheet magnet around some where with a holder (I think) that you are welcome to borrow to see if it has any effect, before spending money on expensive boots or wraps. Might be worth a go?

Longer term I have known horses that have filled legs and have their legs bandage over night to help with that, and with turn out sees totally sound and fine just looks a bit unsightly first thing in the morning, sorry if that's not much help but I hope you find a way to resolve or manage him..

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2012 16:36:26 GMT 1 mandal said:

I was also musing if swelling/cellulitis could work both ways but wasn't very clear. Cellulitis = prone to swelling and swelling (filled legs) could possibly = prone to cellulitis?

Well my vet said if a horse's legs fill up then they will be more prone to infection (from the fluids pooling and staying there in the legs all night) so yes I think you're right it swings both ways.

He said if the effect on Talin is lasting and I bandage nightly to prevent the swelling then there should be no adverse health effects.

[Deleted]

Thanks CM, but all four of his legs are affected so I'd need four ;D

I will speak to my vet again if the tubigrips don't work as I've had various things recommended like supplements. If I've understood the vet right and the persistent swelling is due to permanent damage to tissues (i.e. as opposed to his liver or circulatory system being affected by something systemic) then I doubt any of those things will help.

[curlytobiano]

really sorry to see you and Talin still having these problems Michelle. Like some others have said, no sensible suggestions from me but many healing vibes and best wishes x x

[gwenoakes]

Sorry to hear about Talin, Michelle. As I understand cellulitis in humans, we think my OH has had this recently, that when the swelling first starts if it cant be got rid of straight away and stays, then it will not go down and when there is another bout of it there is a possibility of it being even more swollen. I know in humans it usually starts with a fever of some sort and then usually progresses to one limb which is quite often a knee joint. The infection usually starts with a break in the skin or sometimes it can happen without. There is inflammation which requires antibiotics straight away and if given then the likelihood of the swelling remaining is lessened. It can be quite dangerous and people can go into septic shock.

Sorry not trying to worry you even more and it may be different with horses. I really hope you can get this problem sorted so at the very least it is manageable. Have a HUGE hug from me. XXX

[laurac]

sorry to hear about talin michelle i havent been on here for a few weeks
agree with companymagic magnets can really help swollen legs in a lot of cases, my friends mare gets swollen legs overnight but when she puts on the magentic wraps no swelling at all
I do have 2 magnetic leg wraps knocking around somewhere you are welcome to try them (i believe they increase blood movement/circulation) ive used them on myself for injuries with great success

pm me if you'd like to try them x

[donnalex]

Blondies leg never went smaller than this. When I got her it was bigger as she had been in the habit of standing around. Because our land was hilly it forced her to use it more and it did improve to this. Living in Bioflow boots did nothing for her at all. She was weight bearing sound but not movement sound. It didnt appear to bother her. Trimming her big leg was difficult because bending it was not easy, I used to pull it out behind and use the Hoofjack but she still tried to kick me as I went to get it which I presume meant it was at least not comfortable.Im told she had it since a two year old. Hoof growth was the same on both back legs, it didnt affect that. She could fly around the fields like a nutter and keep the stallion in check too

[Deleted]

Thanks for suggestions, I'll speak to my vet before trying anything magnetic as Talin still has a few bits of MF and all the online shops selling magnetic things say you shouldn't use them where there are cuts or breaks in the skin.

A friend of mine has said she's going to send me the phone number of a lymph specialist who helped her after her pony was (incorrectly) diagnosed with lymphoma, apparently she's happy to give advice on the phone so I'll hopefully speak to her tonight.