My horse with swollen lower leg...

[maphh <maphh@cowland.com>]

Hi!  I have a question and was wondering if anyone else has ever had a 
similar problem.  I just noticed that my geldings right rear lower leg is 
swollen.  He's been confined to a stall for the last week with only short 
periods of turnout due to the treacherous footing in his normal turnout 
area.  (It's a skating rink and very dangerous to let him have free access 
turnout at this time.)

My question is:  Is this most likely what is termed "stocking up" or do you 
think there is something else going on.  (ie. A few weeks ago we were out 
trail riding and he cut his pastern on the same leg and required 7 
stitches.  He had some swelling in the lower leg at that time.  Then the 
farrier was out Monday (1/18) and trimmed and reset him all around. He used 
a sort of stand to rest his rear legs on as my horse seemed to decide to 
lean on him for support (which the farrier didn't appreciate) so he used 
this contraption that supported his lower leg while he finished trimming 
and re-fitting the shoe.)

He's only been turned out for about 1/2 hour or so each day (and Thursday 
he wasn't out at all.)  I didn't notice this swelling until Friday night (I 
got home late Wednesday from work and then was out of town on Thursday; my 
sister in law was taking care of feeding them and never noticed if it had 
been swollen at that time.)  I did turn him out Wednesday for a 1/2 hour 
and there was some ice in the turnout ring, but he didn't seem lame at that 
time.  Actually he still doesn't seem really lame, but there is a lot of 
swelling in his lower leg and it seems to be from the fetlock and the 
cannon.  I was able to turn him out today for about 1.5 hours and then 
applied ice for about 20 minutes this afternoon.  This evening I also gave 
him a Bute. But it's still very swollen tonight.  I plan to ice it in the 
morning when I feed him and then hopefully turn him out again if the 
footing is OK.

  He doesn't appear to be bothered by it and he really didn't appear to be 
lame from it.

 Do you think I could safely hook him up and drive him up the road tomorrow 
just to give him some exercise and stimulate his circulation?  He's really 
getting bored just hanging out in the stall and the roads around here are 
pretty clear of ice and it would be the best place to take him at this 
time.  (The trails are still very icy.)

If anyone has any ideas to what could be going on I'd appreciate it.  I 
have never had this problem before and he was stalled for periods of time 
last winter and spring  and never did this before.  I'm stumped regarding 
what to do next.  Should I give it some more time or should I call in the 
vet to check it out.  I would have called the vet if he seemed lame but he 
doesn't appear to be lame at this time.

Well thanks in advance for all of your help!

Maria