swollen sheath / lymphangitis

[summerguest]

Hi, I have an 11 year old gelding that was retaining fluid in his sheath and the underside of his belly.
The first vet, said he had lymphangitis due to a chest infection, and he had two courses of antibiotics and bute.
Swelling still there a month later so a different vet looked at him and cleaned inside sheath saying that could be the infection site and went on mega strong antibiotic course....
Still swollen! The underside of his belly is no longer swollen but around his sheath it is warm to touch and very swollen. It does go down when he is exercised but fills straight back up again. It looks painful, and I am convinced that he sometimes flinches when having a pee!
Has anyone else ever come accross this? The vet bill is nearing £500 and nothing has been achieved! Vet said sometimes older horses will stay swollen..hope not!

[Daffy Dilly]

Is he stabled?

[jamsinthecat]

slightly different but my mare had lymphangitis following a course of antibiotics. she would get swollen and sore around her teats and through her back legs. to help clear the fluid i had to walk her for at least 20 minutes morning and evening and she was turned out 24/7. I had to be very careful about stabling her for about 6/9 months afterwards as she would start to swell again. Exercise really was the key to helping the fluid disperse - thankfully she seems to be fine again now. hope your boy starts to feel better soon:)

[Stella2]

Like jamsinthecat, I have experience of Lymphangitis in the leg and I still, 3 1/2 years on, have to be careful about her standing in for too long because she develops it again if she does (the more they have it, the more vulnerable they are to developing it). Bad doses have gone right up the leg, over the quarters and included her udders and some of her belly. It can be a dangerious condition and needs to be treated aggressively. The longer they have it, and more often they get it, the more perminant damage there is to the lymphatic system in that area - making it more and more difficult for toxins to drain (which is what the lymphatic system does). When its damaged the tissue will eventually become of a velcro like consistency, so that in post mortum, it can be repeatedly pulled apart and stuck together - so as you can imagine, nothing can drain through that :eek:

When legs are the primary site, movement is a crucial part of treatment and assists tremendously in bringing down the swelling. Your situation sounds much more difficult. It sounds like your Vet is on the ball and taking it seriously (worryingly I have heard of some that don't) and treating it aggressively. Just keep working closely with him/her (in the first year of Flora having it, vet fees came to £1800). It may also be worth seeing if movement of the legs helps to get that area moving a bit - so I'd turn him out as much as possible and walk him in hand for an hour several times a day if he is not in work.

Good luck with him and please keep us updated on his progress.

[*Sez*]

Mine developed lymphangitis in his leg recently. The vet thinks it was caused by a "pin-prick" injury in the field. At first, there was a little heat and only a small amount of swelling, so I thought it was a kick injury, so he was cold-hosed and put on box-rest. Over five days it had seemed to improve, and then all of a sudden got much, much worse, so I got the vet to come out who diagnosed lymphangitis, put him on a short course of penicilin and bute and recommended a short walk every day, and that I continue to cold hose. He's still stabled at the moment, but is 99% sound (a little lame when turning still), so I plan to turn him out for a while this weekend and see how he goes.

The vet said that the most important thing is to get him moving, as this allows the fluid to drain.

I hope your boy is better soon, and it sounds like your vet is doing everything he can.

[lachlanandmarcu]

My boy (MW hunter 17h classic build for it!) developed it a couple of years back, but just to give you hope, although it flares up occasionally now, it isnt nearly as severe. We make sure he is exercised almost every day, especially after doing anything strenuous. If he does get it he gets cold hosed, walked in hand and bandaged overnight, plus bute if thats needed. But he hasnt had it all this winter so far touch wood

[summerguest]

He is stabled at night from about 7pm to 9am and wanders around field in day....only exercised about 3 times a week at moment as everywhere has been flooded...better this week! Sounds like I need to make more of an effort on the exercise front, but so far the improvement it makes is very temporary..soon fills back up again. Perhaps once he can go out 24/7 it will help?
He seems to be taking longer to pee...and stands in a trance for a few seconds when finished....and is dribbling for quite a few minutes after! It looks painful and he is not too keen on me manipulating the area...it also deflates a bit after washing it.
Speaking to vet again tomorrow to see what he suggests next!
Thanks for your replies...though think I'm more worried now!

[sheryl]

Hi,
How is he now? Have you spoken to vet again? Poor boy :(

[mogadoga]

Like everyone says, moving your horse will be a great help and bring the swelling down, but because the lymph glands have swolen, toxins will have been released in the body, if its been a large swelling it would be a good idea to d-tox. Ive heard brilliant reviews from global herbs restore, they have also brought out a new product called lymph blend but ive heard nothing about it :)

[summerguest]

Vet said not dangerous unless its a tumour causing a blockage of the lymph vessels....so could scan for that...though 90% of time its nothing.

Looks like he is stuck with swollen bits at mo...but well in himself infact rather lively to ride!