Issue in horses: symptoms, causes, and treatment

Horses can sometimes have an extremely thick, swollen leg out of nowhere. This is called an elephant leg or issue. An issue is a subcutaneous inflammation in which a lot of fluid accumulates in the leg. But do you know what this exactly is? How to recognize it, but especially how to treat it?

What is an issue?

An issue usually occurs in one of the hind legs. It is an inflammation of the subcutaneous layer and often also of the lymphatic vessels and sometimes even blood vessels. This causes the leg to swell enormously because a lot of fluid (edema) accumulates subcutaneously. This is a painful swelling for horses. This acute swollen leg with inflammations is called an issue, if this inflammation becomes chronic, it is considered an elephant leg. The swelling will not go away anymore and the leg will remain thick.

What causes an issue in horses?

An issue can occur when bacteria manage to penetrate the skin of the leg. This often happens when the horse already has a weakened immune system and there are wounds or scratches on the leg. Innocent bacteria penetrate through these spots and due to the weakened immune system of the horse, they cause an infection. The cause of acute issues is a combination of bacteria, damaged skin, and a weakened immune system.

How do you recognize an issue?

An issue often arises very acutely and is immediately very severe. There are a number of typical characteristics that can help you recognize an issue in horses:

• Extremely swollen leg, the skin is really under tension. Swelling is often from the coronet band to the hock. But in severe cases, it can even swell all the way to the groin.

• Fever

• Warm leg and painful for the horse

• Often a wound/scratches can be seen on the leg

An issue can also occur in a less severe form where there is no fever or the leg is less swollen. But it can also happen that you see fluid (yellow, clear) coming through the skin. This is due to the tension on the leg and creates wet spots on the skin, damaging the skin underneath.

It is important to know that stocking up and an issue are not the same. An issue often occurs in only one leg, while stocking up occurs in 2 or 4 legs. There is also no inflammation with stocking up and the swelling quickly disappears with movement.

Treatment of an issue in horses

An issue should always be taken seriously and treated immediately! You can consider it an emergency, as there is a serious infection, and if not treated in time, there is a risk of permanent damage to the lymphatic vessels. This can lead to the issue becoming a permanent elephant leg with permanent changes to the skin and excessive formation of connective tissue in the leg. With prompt treatment, an issue can be effectively treated and the swelling is usually significantly reduced within a few days.

A veterinarian will treat an issue with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs for several days, but often forget to consider nutrition. It is important to eliminate grains and provide highly absorbable vitamins and minerals in high concentrations. This can include products such as Metazoa, Vitalbix, or Equilin. Liquid minerals from the Bering Sea can also be added to the diet. The underlying cause of the issue (scratches, wound, etc) should also be treated to reduce the risk of reinfection in the future.

Natural approach to an issue with black cumin

During the acute phase, it is important to follow the steps of the veterinarian to prevent it from becoming an elephant leg or even causing sepsis. However, you can immediately support your horse with natural remedies. In particular, thymoquinone from black cumin is very suitable for use in addressing issues in horses. This has a strong anti-inflammatory effect and works quickly and effectively. In addition, black cumin is analgesic and will help the entire body return to balance. Choose a product that combines thymoquinone and a clove extract (cannabinoids), as these work synergistically with each other, enhancing their effectiveness. You can also use cleavers and nettles, which have a diuretic effect. This also stimulates blood circulation.

How to prevent issues in horses?

Unfortunately, issues are not always preventable. But it is important to treat wounds promptly and keep an eye on scratches. Use effective microorganisms (EM) spray on affected areas to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria. Annual lymphatic drainage massage can help prevent issues. Make sure to support your horse's immune system optimally, for example, by giving liquid nettles for 10 to 14 days every quarter. This not only purifies the blood but also boosts the immune system. Be conscious of not feeding too many grains and molasses. It's better to feed a balancer with highly concentrated vitamins and minerals, but without fillers like grains and soy products. Compare the ingredients and concentrations of vitamins and minerals in your feed with a balancer. Often, you have to feed at least two kilos of concentrate to reach the same concentration of vitamins and minerals in a balancer.