Why Are My Horses Legs Stocking Up?

“Stocking up” is swelling in the lower limbs caused by pooling of lymph, a fluid containing infection-fighting white blood cells that circulates through the lymphatic system. Stocking up is typically temporary and often occurs due to reduced activity, which impairs circulation.

How do you treat stocked up legs in horses?

Treating stocking up is easy—you simply need to get your horse moving. Ride him, walk him by hand or turn him out with a pasture mate. With activity, swelling will usually diminish within the hour.

Why are my horses back legs stocked up?

Caused by inactivity and reduced lymph flow, this “stocking up” is usually not serious and will dissipate as the horse is exercised. It’s more common in older horses and can affect all four legs, though stocking up is often seen only in the hind legs.

What does stocking up in horses mean?

What is it? Stocking up is harmless swelling in the lower legs due to decreased circulation. Reduced activity is what usually leads to this pooling of blood and other fluids in the extremities.

What causes horses legs to fill?

Horses are prone to this ‘stocking up’ as they have relatively poor circulation in their legs. When a horse is moving, the action of his legs and his feet hitting the ground acts like a pump and sends blood and lymphatic fluid back up from his limbs.

Can alfalfa cause stocking up in horses?

Alfalfa Hay Can Contribute To Excess Protein
It’s easy to overwhelm the horse with too much protein when feeding alfalfa hay because on average, alfalfa has more than twice the amount of protein as grasses.

What is the fastest way to hydrate a horse?

Your horse loses water through sweating, especially during intense exercise, so you’ll need to help him cool off and rehydrate. This can be achieved by cooling him off quickly. Simply cover him in cold water by using a horse or sponge, then scrape off the excess water.

What are signs of neurological problems in horses?

Lack of coordination, weakness or paralysis of the hind limbs, muscle twitching, impaired vision, head pressing, aimless wandering, convulsions, circling and coma are some of the severe neurologic effects. Horses typically have non-neurologic signs, too, such loss of appetite and a depressed attitude.

What are signs that a horse is in pain?

Signs of Pain in Horses

• Lameness or abnormal gait.
• Unusual posture.
• Shifting weight from one leg to another.
• Muscle tremors.
• Abnormal sweating.
• Lying down more than usual.
• Mood or temperament changes.
• Decreased appetite.

What are the signs of rhabdomyolysis in horses?

Excessive sweating, quick, shallow breathing, rapid heart rate, and muscle tremors are also noticed. In extreme cases, horses may be reluctant or refuse to move and may produce discolored urine due to the release of myoglobin from damaged muscle tissue.

Can an allergic reaction cause a horse to stock up?

Allergens from feed, bedding or the environment (dust, mold, pollen) can lead to systemic inflammation that causes fluid to leak from the bloodstream into the body tissues. Gravity then facilitates the transfer of the fluids down to your horse’s legs and results in stocking up.

Will poultice help stocking up?

While poultices are super effective at relieving stocking up, they can also alleviate less obvious leg pain. Catch subtle signs of stress or injury early by checking your horse’s legs often, especially after strenuous exercise.

Can too much protein cause horses legs to swell?

Causes of Swollen Leg in Horses
Causes can include: Stall confinement after exercise. Not enough exercise. Excessive protein in diet.

What are 3 signs that might indicate to you that a horse might be suffering from illness?

Signs of poor health and horses

• change in appetite or drinking habits.
• change in droppings or signs of diarrhoea.
• change in demeanour or behaviour.
• change in weight (either increase or decrease)
• change in coat/foot condition.

What causes legs to fill with water?

Common causes of swollen ankles, feet and legs
eating too much salty food. being overweight. being pregnant. taking certain medicines – such as some blood pressure medicines, contraceptive pills, hormone therapy, antidepressants or steroids.

Does laminitis cause swollen legs?

Horses may exhibit increased digital pulses, increased hoof temperatures, swelling in the limbs, constant weight shifting, subtle or obvious lameness, a stance indicating discomfort, unwillingness to move, and reluctance to rise.

Why is alfalfa not good for horses?

Alfalfa is a good source of nutrients for sport horses, but owners might want to avoid offering it when horses are working hard in hot weather, says Duren. Protein metabolism creates more heat than fat or carbohydrate metabolism. This added heat can impair the horse’s ability to dissipate heat.

Should horses eat hay or alfalfa?

Tradition holds that timothy hay and oats are the best feeds for horses, and that alfalfa and corn spell disaster. Alfalfa hay may not be the best feed for all horses in all situations, but it contains nutrients needed for many classes of horses.

How do you know if your horse has alfalfa allergy?

We often find that Barley, Molasses and Alfalfa are ingredients that can cause unwanted reactions in some horses.
Feed Allergies and Intolerances

• Hives.
• Itchy or scurfy skin.
• Loss of hair.
• Sharp, fizzy or excitable behaviour.
• Regional swellings.
• Digestive upsets.
• Loose or watery droppings.
• Decreased performance.

What does a dehydrated horse look like?

Colors such as white or purple on its mucous membrane indicate signs of dehydration. But if it begins to feel dry and the eyes look sticky, this may be a sign of dehydration. Once you have identified that your horse is dehydrated, your vet will try to encourage your horse to drink fresh portable water.

How do you check a horse for dehydration?

Pinch the skin near the point of the shoulder. If the skin snaps back quickly your horse is sufficiently hydrated. If it takes the skin two to four seconds to snap back, your horse is moderately dehydrated. If it takes longer than four seconds for the skin to snap back, your horse is severely dehydrated.