Why Does My Horse Have a Fat Leg?
- November 11, 2020
- Posted by Nancy S. Loving, DVM

5 reasons for swelling, from benign triggers to causes for major concern
Your horse’s sleek, strong legs have remained taut and unblemished throughout (and sometimes despite) his athletic pursuits. Then one day as you offer him breakfast, you notice he has a “fat” leg. Is it cause for alarm or something simple to deal with? Let’s look at the variety of causes for limb swelling.
Initial Assessment Steps
Before you assume the worst, consider that in many cases prompt recognition and treatment can resolve leg swelling. Jump on the situation and contact your veterinarian immediately rather than trying the wait-and-see approach.
First, you’ll want to gather information to share with your veterinarian before making the call. Rosemary Cuming, BVSc MS, MANZCVS, Dipl. ACVIM, of Scone Equine Hospital, in New South Wales, Australia, advises owners to make notes about the whole horse—not just his limbs. 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. Already have an account?Create a free account with TheHorse.com to view this content.
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Written by:
Nancy S. Loving, DVM
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