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| Author |
Message |
    
James (Arvane)
| | Posted on Thursday, Aug 16, 2001 - 2:12 pm: |   |
Hello, I hope I am posting in the right place. I think my horse has windpuffs, his hind fetlocks are swollen when I leave him stabled during the day. It goes down when he is moving around but as soon a couple of hours after exercise, they are swollen again. My vet said he is stocking up but that it looks like he also has windpuffs.
I read with great interest Dr O's articles about non-painful swelling and the related articles. I am a bit discouraged because I didn't realize how serious windpuffs can be, long term. Therefore I would like to start wrapping him every day, as I understand that is the best way to prevent more loss of elasticity (?). From the articles I summed up that pressure wrapping, massage and some form of tightener would be appropriate (not cold-treatment, as I originally thought).
My questions are: 1. should the bandages be on all night and the next day when the horse is out, until I ride him again in the evening, or should the bandages be taken off in the morning before he goes out in the pasture?
2. Can I use polo-wraps only (or some form of boot) or do I have do make the poultices and/or wrap several layers of bandages? I don't mean to sound lazy but I would like to have a system that would be realistic since I will be wrapping him every night.
3. Are there any good tightener solutions that anyone could recommend, or should they be home-made per the description in Dr O's article?
Thanks! |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Friday, Aug 17, 2001 - 5:59 am: | |
Hello James,
Where does the swelling occur exactly? Usually windpuffs are not changed by exercise and stocking up is. Also windpuffs usually do not respond to wrapping while stocking up will.
If you determine that the swelling is remarkable enough to require bandaging, usually light stocking up does not, then:
1) The bandages are on during the times he is stalled for more than a few hours.
2) Polos with soft cotton wraps underneath will usually address stocking up. Technique should always be evaluated by results so if you find this is not working for you you will need to escalate the technique.
3) Commercial products designed for messgage and having a bandage put over them will be fine.
It is not clear from your history that all this extra work is important. The swelling seems self limiting and rapidly resolves once out. If the problem is worsening over time or if there are times when the horse will be up a prolonged time you can reconsider these options.
DrO |
James (Arvane)
| | Posted on Saturday, Aug 18, 2001 - 1:17 pm: | |
thanks Dr O, I did bandage him with olwraps last night and the legs looked better this morning. I will get a massage product to put on at night. As always, I appreciate your help! |
Melissa Webster (Mwebster)
| | Posted on Sunday, Aug 26, 2001 - 3:55 pm: | |
DrO,
My gelding (the arthritic 20yr old former eventer with low ringbone) also has windpuffs (they've been there, all 4 legs, for a long time). Should I be bandaging his legs for support when I hack him?
Thanks,
Melissa |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Monday, Aug 27, 2001 - 6:08 am: | |
No the windpuffs are not an indication for support wraps if they are not getting worse. For more on this see, Care for Horses: Disease Prevention and Health Care: Wrapping and Bandaging Horses Legs and for more on bandaging see, Equine Diseases: First Aid: Pressure Wraps, Poultices, Cold and Heat Therapy for Swelling in Horse Legs.
DrO |
Chris Newbert
Member
Username: Chris49
Post Number: 8
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jun 24, 2003 - 8:18 am: | |
HI Dr. O,
I've read what I could find on the site on windpuff, which I think my wife's 20 y/o TB has -- a mild puffiness on either side, toward the back, at the top of his right hind fetlock. But I remain unclear as to the probably cause and recommended treatment. Should excerise be avoided? Could I trouble you for a brief summary? Thanks! |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 8659
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jun 25, 2003 - 7:31 am: | |
Hello Chris,
Check out » Equine Diseases » Skin Diseases » Diagnosing and Assessing Swellings in Horses it explains how they occur and recommended procedures for dealing with windpuffs.
DrO |
