Within a few hours to days, fluid seeps through the most damaged areas of the tightly stretched skin. The heart continues to pump fluid in, but the exits are blocked. Lymph ducts and blood vessels become damaged and swollen and lose elasticity, with blood and lymph pooling on top of the one-way valves. The lymph nodes are overwhelmed and can, themselves, become infected. The lymphatic system drains fluid from the leg, filtering it through lymph nodes that try to remove foreign pathogens (disease-causing organisms). The bacteria reproduce quickly, causing the inflammatory reactions of heat and swelling as the body attacks its invaders. Often, this is a Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, or Escherichia coli species. Why does this occur, and what exactly happens? The veterinary community's best educated guess is that a cut or even simple abrasion to the leg allows bacteria access. On examination, the limb will have "pitting edema" (when you squeeze it, you will see imprints of your fingers left in the tissue), and the horse will raise the leg so far up to avoid your touch that he could fall over. Frequently, these horses will not eat - most likely due to the fever and discomfort - and will be obviously depressed, and some will tremble, breathe rapidly and sweat. The horse experiences abrupt or short-term (acute) onset of a hugely swollen leg (usually a hind leg), extreme pain ("three-legged lame"), and an elevated temperature (102-105 degrees F). Stocking up usually resolves with exercise. The equine lower limb has no muscles to contract and, therefore, must rely on one-way valves in the vessels to hold the fluids and compression of the frog to impel them upward. Muscle contraction and elevated blood pressure are the typical forces that move blood and lymph fluid back toward the heart. ![]() We see this minor problem frequently in horses that experience a significant decrease in exercise. Many horses will "stock up," with subcutaneous edema (fluid swelling) in two or more legs (usually hind limbs). All these names can be correct: The suffix, itis, means "inflammation" of the lymphatic system (lymphangitis), blood vessels (vasculitis), or subcutaneous connective tissue (cellulitis). Whatever you call it, this recurrent bacterial infection and leg swelling affects many horses - of any breed - and is a frustrating cause of lameness and loss of money and time. Lymphangitis, vasculitis, big leg disease, staph infection, or cellulitis.
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