[SpruceLane]

I've recently noticed some heat and swelling in my horse's front legs. The puffiness is located at the back of his front legs around the tendons, but is only near the top of the lower leg. It seems to have begun a day or so after his last visit from our farrier.

He is known to be a little trippy on his feet and so the farrier just rolled his toes to help with a smoother break over. I'm wondering if this new method has caused some undue strain on his front legs resulting in the heat and swelling near the top of the lower leg?

Has anyone experienced something similar? I don't want a career ending tendon injury, but if this is something he is going to acclimate to, then I'd hate to spend the call fee on a vet to tell me the same thing. I have never experienced such localized swelling and am polling the experience of the COTH masses for input before the vet visit.

Many thanks!

[Addison]

Does your farrier use a stand to prop the hoof on as he rasps it? That may cause a problem for some horses. I suggest you have your vet examine the horse before you work him. Tendonitis may present as you are describing.

Good luck to you.

[foxyeventer]

i'm of no help except that i'm curious to see what people say because this is currently happening to my guy - both hinds, only on the outside but just the top half of the cannons. His feet were done on Wednesday - noticed it Sunday, but hadn't been to see him since Friday. My BO and I agreed that the best course of action is cold hosing, wrapping, stall rest, and an NSAID (I'm using previcox). Will get a vet out if the swelling does not subside, but my vet can't get out my way until Friday!
I hope your horses swelling subsides and this turns into a non-issue!

[SpruceLane]

Thanks Addison. I believe the farrier does have a stand. Both one to finish the foot (that the horse places its foot sole down on) as well as one that his hoof wall would rest on as the bottom of the hoof is rasped.

I wonder how that would cause issues for the horse. Can anyone share a theory?

I will discuss tendonitis with the vet. We are going to do some thermal imaging to see just what structure is inflamed.

Foxyeventer, I'm sorry to hear your horse is going through something similar. I hope your treatment works and the inflammation is gone by Friday before your vet is planned to come out.

[findeight]

In 45 years I have had all sorts of mayhem but never recall heat and swelling around the top, rear section of the cannons after a farrier visit. Stands or no stands. And I have had at least one bad farrier who caused some harm, but no heat and swelling higher up.

Not saying it's impossible, just that I never have had it or known one that had it. Certainly sounds like the upper part of those tendons are inflamed-possibly from a too drastic change of angle, possibly not related at all? But it's a concern and I'd want it ultrasounded PDQ here.

Sure would keep the horse quiet until the vet can get there and cold hose to keep the heat/swelling down...maybe some bute and a wrap too. It may clear on it's own but it is not at all typical following a farrier visit.

[SpruceLane]

Vet was out last night to ultrasound and it was diagnosed as Check ligament inflammation, both inferior and superior. He suggested bute, cold hosing, DMSO poultices and wrapping for about a week. Walking for another week and then slowly bringing him back into work.

We pulled his shoes to at least give him a flat surface to stand on. (Had rolled shoes with road studs in) and my original farrier is coming back out to fix him up.

Thanks for everyone's feedback and suggestions.

[Addison]

FINDEIGHT...My horse had check ligament surgery which was not rehabbed well and resulted in excessive scar tissue formation. When she was shod by a new farrier who used a stand, some of the adhesions tore. As the adhesions pulled away from the tendon it resulted in some tendon damage which lead to tendonitis.

A horse without any other pathology may not be susceptible to such a problem but if there is a pre symptomatic issue, it may present after such a strain.