© 2022 Copyright Statement dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing User Terms, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.
You need to be logged in to fill out this form
Register Below...
Is Hot Weather Making My Horse’s Legs Stock Up?
Q. Recently, we have been experiencing some very hot weather, and I noticed that my horse’s legs are stocking up. This has not happened before. Could this be related to the heat, and is there anything I can do nutritionally that might help?
A. “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. It is commonly seen in horses that live outside that are brought in for a time and, therefore, do not move as much as normal. Sometimes, though, it develops in other scenarios.
Step One: Check for Injury or Illness
Any time limbs swell, it’s important to check for heat and pain to determine whether the cause might be an injury. Also, take your horse’s temperature; if it’s elevated, he could have an
Create a free account with TheHorse.com to view this content.
TheHorse.com is home to thousands of free articles about horse health care. In order to access some of our exclusive free content, you must be signed into TheHorse.com.
Start your free account today!
Already have an account?
and continue reading.
Written by:
Clair Thunes, PhD
Related Articles
Hoof-Care Triage
Understanding Potomac Horse Fever
The Equine Gut Microbiome and Horse Behavior
Treating Equine Joints With Medical-Grade Honey Post-Surgery
Stay on top of the most recent Horse Health news with
FREE weekly newsletters from TheHorse.com
Sponsored Content
Vetscan Imagyst™: Positive Results in a Mixed Veterinary Practice
Equine Care for Life: Helping Horse Owners Navigate Veterinary Costs
Vetscan Imagyst™ Allows Vets 24/7 Access to Clinical Pathologist for Cytology Results Within 2 Hours
Weekly Poll
Readers’ Most Popular
WNV Confirmed in 4 Idaho Counties
Kentucky Horse Positive for WNV
The Effects of Longeing on Your Horse’s Joints
Myths About Equine Colic Surgery
Top Categories