| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Tonim |
Posted - 05 Jan 2010 : 10:00:47 AM
Over the weekend Hartley's hind leg swelled to about three times the size, it was and still is huge and he also had a temperature. The vet diagnose lymphangitis and he is now on a course of steroids and anti inflammatories. I'm having to cold hose his leg twice daily and the vet also recommended exercise such as going on a horse walker (I don't have one!). The hose and tap keeps freezing which is a nightmare and we are having to walk him out in hand which is ok at the moment but they forecast snow and I won't be able to get him out the yard once it becomes icy. I wondered whether anyone else has experienced lymphangitis and how they managed it, the vet has said that he will now be prone to getting bouts of it in the future. Any info gratefully received as always. |
| 8 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Pasha |
Posted - 05 Jan 2010 : 2:08:58 PM
Well the vet knows best, but please please please double check that he absolutely has to have steroids if there is any risk of Lami as that is the last thing you want!
My friend's horse had to have steroids for ringbone and we quizzed the vet and she said there was virtually no risk with those and the amounts given, so it may be different types, i'm not sure. He was fine thank goodness!
I think my vet wanted Shesky to have Echinacea as he seems prone to catching everything going! Luckily though he eats everything in sight, even with meds in  |
| Tonim |
Posted - 05 Jan 2010 : 1:10:05 PM
Thank you everyone for the advice.
Geegee - you've reminded me that I might have some cold therapy wraps! I got some years ago for my old pony so I'm going to dig them out.
MinHe - The information you've provided is of a great help. With regard to exercise, I've enlisted the help of my mum and a couple of friends to help with walking him out as I'm working full time, so between us he should get plenty. We've brought some rock salt to put down for when it becomes icy but I think i might try the cat litter as well!
Hartley is turned out every day so at least he is moving about in the field a bit.
Pasha - the vet hasn't recommended feeding him any supplements or anything but he's out again this afternoon so i will ask him. The only thing with Hartley is he's very fussy about having anything in his feed. As it is the vet has told me i'm going to have to syringe some capsules down him, i think these may be the steroids? I'll find out later. The vet did warn me that I'd be seeing a lot of him over the next few days, he said we've also got to watch out for Hartley going down with laminitis due to the steroids.
I'll try and post some pics of his leg. |
| saraht |
Posted - 05 Jan 2010 : 1:07:40 PM
Our gelding suffered from this in the spring this year - he was originally diagnosed with a punctured tendon sheath with all the ensuing panic and uncertainty to his future that caused we were relieved that his leg soon came down with meds and exercise - easy for us as he is out 24/7 but it must be a nightmare at this time of year. Try to keep him moving even if it is around his box. Is there a big stable/foaling box you could use? I would also suggest using soaking wet towels around his leg for 10 minutes - at least you could bring them from home in a bin liner and it wouldn't cause more ice in the yard.
I hope he recovers soon |
| Mrs Vlacq |
Posted - 05 Jan 2010 : 12:47:12 PM
lots of gentle exercise in the snow is probably really good for it - at least with it so cold there are less bugs to worry about. Good luck, keep walking him out and trickling cool water over the leg, from water bottles if the taps are freezing. |
| Pasha |
Posted - 05 Jan 2010 : 11:42:44 AM
Oh poor Hartley!
Shesky got this when he was in on box rest, but typical Shesky, it wasn't typical as he had it in his front leg!!!
He wasn't allowed out of the box so I couldn't walk him or hose it, so the first day I cold tubbed it and then I used the cold gel wraps with a thin tea towel underneath, twice a day for 15 mins and he had a course of antibiotics.
Has your vet recomended giving his immune system a boost with Echinacea? I've got Shesky on Emmune (Equine America) now and he'll stay on that until March. My vet has recommended he has it as a little extra help during the winter months as he's had a few infections since I got him and the vet is sick of the sight of him |
| MinHe |
Posted - 05 Jan 2010 : 11:10:20 AM
I would go with the ice wraps too, but put a dry towel or similar on underneath so that the wrap doesn't directly touch the skin, and get as much exercise as you can possibly manage under the conditions.
Exercise is absolutely the key to managing lymphangitis - not what you want to hear right now, I know, but true. My old mare suffered from it all her life following an accident aged 4, and as she was a very good doer it inevitably flared up when the fresh grass came through. Again, free exercise or exercise in hand helped control it, but it meant I had to carefully watch her rations and make sure I didn't overdo the protein when she was on hard feed.
Would it be possible to put some straw or similar down in the yard to give grip? Apparently people have been using cat litter on icy paths, but don't know if this really works! Alternatively, what about getting a bag of small gravel from B&Q?
Watch out for any signs of serum breaking through the skin - this may happen and in mild cases you may get nothing but a small crusty area, but a large breakout can happen and take the skin with it. If you suspect this might be happening, call your vet ASAP. Hopefully, though, it won't get that bad.
Keren |
| alethea |
Posted - 05 Jan 2010 : 10:40:48 AM
Hello
One of my mares suffered from this in the summer. Once she had finished her medicine from the vets it cleared up completely and has not returned (touch wood).
The ice wraps sound like a good idea in this weather.
You are doing all the right things to treat it so i hope it clears up soon, it should do. Best of luck and
Alethea
Aristotle Arabians |
| geegee |
Posted - 05 Jan 2010 : 10:35:42 AM
Rather than cold hose, can't you get cold therapy wraps/ice wraps? Better than the risk of a freeze burn in these temperatures.....and obviously more convenient when taps are frozen up.
Just a thought 
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