Edema In Horses - Find out more about retained fluid and lymphatic drainage
I often visit horses that suffer from Edema.
Usually this is in the legs, also known as ‘filled legs or ‘stocking up’
Edema can also sometimes be seen under the midline (belly) of your horse, around the sheath in geldings/stallions and can also be seen in the jaw/cheeks.
Edema is an accumulation of lymphatic fluid under the skin that’s settled to the lowest point of the body, thanks to gravity.
The Edema swelling can be pressed without a pain reaction and the swollen area will feel dough like.
An Edema can often occur when horses are stood still for long periods of time such as when stabled and when travelling.
However they may also occur due to trauma, allergic reaction and infections.
If the swelling is painful to touch, accompanied by other unusual symptoms or your horse is lame you should contact your vet immediately.
Once your vet is happy there is nothing more serious going on with your horse and the swelling is due to lack of movement you can then look at ways to reduce the current swelling and reduce the likelihood of this happening again.
One of the first things to do is to get your horse moving.
This can include turn out, walking in-hand, lunging, horse walker, or riding.
Movement stimulates the circulatory and lymphatic systems and will help to get the fluid moving.
You should notice the swelling reduce quite quickly from movement alone.
Another way to reduce the swelling is Lymphatic Drainage Massage.
Using specific massage techniques in the direction of the heart and glands lymphatic drainage massage stimulates the lymphatic system to increase lymph flow.
The lymph flow picks up the metabolic wastes and removes them through the glands, as the lymph flow increases the swelling will reduce.
The horse in the images presented with a Ventral Edema (on the underside of the belly) following a prolonged period of stabling and a long journey with a transporter.
A combination of turnout, walking in-hand and massage therapy will help to reduce the swelling and boost her internal systems, allowing the body to recover and continue working as it should.