Why is my horse's buttock hot, swollen, lumpy, and dragging its toe?

These may be swollen lymph nodes. Lymph nodes can swell and get very painful when they are inflamed. You need to get a veterinarian out for an exam. There may be some infection in the region that drains into those lymph nodes. Please call a veterinarian for an exam.

Hi, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sorry to hear this happened to Cody. It does sound like it may be an abscess. Sidebone rarely causes lameness so I doubt it is that. Ringbone is a possibility depending on where the swelling is located (front of the hoof, one of the sides or over the heels); this swelling is usually very firm to the touch. You just said there is a lump above the coronet but not where on the foot so that makes it harder for me to be helpful. If you want to post again with a photo we may be able to assist you better. Regardless of the cause, I suggest you get a vet out there to check him. In the meantime you can soak the foot up over the fetlock in a bucket of warm Epsom Salt water for 10 minutes twice a day to hopefully draw the infection out (if that is what it is). If it is not an abscess this won't hurt but it won't help. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

This looks like the result of a chronic trauma or infection creating a proliferative skin inflammation (that is why it looks like a lump). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics or antifungal meds (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection can eventually be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths.

Your horse could have an infection. Sometimes they can get an infection in the hoof that can cause some swelling in fetlock area. It may be a good idea to have your vet examine her and possibly give her some antibiotics and anti-inflammatory meds. I hope this has helped. Thank you for using pet coach.

Check for bite marks (snake bite). If you cannot find any, there is likely some problem with a tooth or tooth root, or salivary gland. Your horse could also have been kicked there or, when eating, have bitten in some foreign material in the hay that could have caused a mouth injury. If the swelling does not go down within 24 hours I would call out a veterinarian for an exam of your horse's mouth and face.

A suddenly appearing lump on the back of a horse is likely a traumatic swelling, or abscess or possibly a cyst. You should have a veterinarian examine this, as it is ikely painful and an abscess could be breaking through towards the spine. I am afraid without a photo or more detailed description it is not possible to give you a more detailed idea of what this could be and how it could be treated.

This could be a sign of laminitis, a hoof abscess, inflammation or arthritis of the joints, tendinitis, etc. You will need to make an appointment with your equine vet for an exam. The least your vet will give or prescribe is pain medicine and anti-inflammatory medicine, If there is an abscess or infection your horse will also need antibiotics.