My horse has swollen leg veins and fluid lumps. What should I do?

These prominent veins could be completely normal on Pearl. Some horses naturally have more prominent superficial veins, especially in areas where there isn't a lot of fat such as the lower legs and the face. This may not be something you need to be concerned about, but without seeing her in person, I can't say for certain. As long as she is otherwise eating and drinking normally, going to the bathroom normally, and behaving normally, I wouldn't be too worried. Instead, the next time you have the equine vet out, just have them check her over to make sure it's normal. I hope this helps!

She may be having an allergic reaction, which causes the edema, or swelling you're seeing in the legs. If she's not lame, you can give her time, with walking and cold water hosing. If the swelling persists, she probably needs steroids instead of bute and I recommend a visit to your vet for a full exam and bloodwork as well.

You have some great observation skills about your horse!! It sounds like you are describing a joint that is filled with excessive fluid. Joints have 'pouches' that bulge on the sides of the joints when they are filled with fluid - and when you press on one side, the fluid moves to the other side. Structures on the hind leg that have obvious pouches like that are the fetlock joint and, in the same region, the tendon sheath. Up higher on the leg - another tendon sheath as well as the hock joint can have obvious pouches. The swelling itself may not be cause for alarm, unless it is brand new and/or is also accompanied by lameness (limping). If there is lameness, you should have Ellie evaluated by your veterinarian to determine if the swelling is associated with the lameness and what treatment should be done. If there is not lameness associated with that leg, mention the swelling to your veterinarian the next time they are out for an appointment or you talk with them next. Good luck with Ellie and thank you for using Pet Coach.

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.

Swelling of a superficial vein is known as phlebitis, and yes cats can get that. Without seeing Chandler in person, however, I can't say if that is the cause of this lump or not. I do think he should see a vet, but if he's happy and normal and it isn't bothering, you can save up money for the visit. I can also give you some resources that may help. You can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/ Best of luck.

I would still be very suspicious of a hoof abscess. I would recommend having her checked out by a vet to see what is going on. Some abscesses can be tricky to diagnose and they may not even react with hoof testers, but a good equine vet should be able to tell what is going on after a lameness exam.

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.