My horse's "ankle" is swollen...?

Question

I have a 17-18 y.o. twh gelding. ive had him for about three years now, and since i got him, his back left "ankle" i guess you could say has been extremely swollen. We ride him all the time and he never shows any signs of pain. he actually stands on it more than his right back leg. We thought it might be retaining water, but its really hard. The vet thought it could be arthritis, but wouldnt he be limping and showing signs of pain? Has anyone else seen this on a horse?

Answer 1

It could be calcification from a previous injury. The only way to tell for sure would be to have your vet x-ray it.

Answer 2

Since you say he's not favoring it or showing any tenderness combined with the length of time it's been there ect I'd think it was probably scar tissue or calcification from an old injury. I've saw a couple of horses with previously broken or fractured rear joints where the joint fused and was no longer painful just enlarged. It loses most of it's mobility with fusion but with a rear pastern that really isn't an issue. I've actually saw horses return to show jumping with a fused rear pastern.

Arthritis will cause enlargement of the joints as the years progress but at 17 I'd not think he'd really be having any arthritis problems  yet unless it was just affecting that joint due to an old injury to it.

If it is on the pastern below the fetlock joint it could also be ringbone. Usually once it hardens it isn't painful, particulary on on rear foot that doesn't have as much mobility as the fronts.

If your vet saw it and didn't seem worried I don't think you have much to worry about. I'd just watch it really close and if he has any problems or you're still worried ask your vet to do X-rays.

If it's arthritis you can put him on some suppliments (Corta-Flx HA is really good added to feed and Adequan is a once monthly injectable) to keep it from worsening but if it is a calcified injury, fused joint, ringbone or scar tissue not much that can be done about it anyway.

If he was mine, as long as he was happy and comfortable I'd put him on the oral suppliments and just watch it closely. It's already been three years and nothing bad has happened so far so chances are good that as long as he doesn't over stress it he will stay sound.

Answer 3

sounds like lymphangitus.

Answer 4

It is not lymphangitis.

Different horses are different, it could be from a previous injury but it could just be from the way he has grown ( like how some people get one foot bigger than the other etc.) If it is not hot or fluidy and if it doesn't affect his performance in any way then I wouldn't worry about it.

Basically if it isn't broke - don't fix it.

Edit; I have seen this on an eventing horse ( not sure of his age but I'd guess he's around 10-12 years) he still events and it causes him no trouble whatsoever - it just looks a bit odd.

Answer 5

First off horses dont have ankles they have fetlocks. Also if your vet 'thinks' its arthritis get a different vet that can actually TELL you what it is and not just think. The odds are if its hard and hes sound its an old injury. Did he have it when you bought him? Any way find yourself another vet that can help you.

Answer 6

sounds like an oscelot. Basically an overgrowth of bone, on some horses its a problem, on others its not.  Its not unusual to see them on racehorses.

If its hard and cold, and he doesn't limp or show any pain on it, its fine. Especially if it hasn't changed in the 3 years you've had him.

My best horse has them, one of his ankles is really huge, but he could care less! He even raced with them.

Answer 7

It could be the blemish windpuffs or windgalls which cause no pain but they look swollen.

Answer 8

My horses ankle was swollen at one point, but it was a pulled tendon, and he was favoring. That's probably not the case. Maybe that's just how his breeding is. Yes, if he had arthritis, he'd be limping. When my horses ankle gets swollen, I usually water it down or put ice tight on it. You probably don't have to though, since his leg doesn't appear to be hurt.