Stocking Up or Something Serious? How to Tell What’s Causing Your Horse’s Leg Swelling | Draw It Out®

Stocking Up vs. Serious Horse Leg Swelling — Know the Difference & Act Fast | Draw It Out®
Draw It Out® | Leg Care 101

Stocking Up vs. Serious Horse Leg Swelling

Stocking up is that cool, puffy fill—usually both hinds—after stall time or hauling. Serious swelling is hot, painful, one-leg, or paired with lameness/fever. This page gives you the barn-simple checks and what to do next—cool first, then coat. No menthol burn, no alcohol sting, no perfumes or dyes.

Quick Chooser

  • Cool, painless, both hinds after standing? Likely stocking up → walk 10–15 min, DiO 16oz Gel thin layer, clean standing wraps if that’s your program.
  • Hot, painful, one leg or fever ≥101.5°F? Suspect cellulitis/lymphangitis → call your vet. Keep the horse quiet.
  • Sudden severe lameness or won’t bear weight? Hoof abscess or injury → emergency vet.
  • After a hard run/haul with heat? Cool with IceBath™ → target with CryoSpray® → thin Gel.
Swelling Causes Prevention Guide Cold vs. Liniment

First 60-Second Check

  • One leg or both? Both hinds = often stocking up. One leg = more suspicious.
  • Heat & pain? Back of your hand: hot/painful suggests active inflammation/infection.
  • Lameness? Walk straight, turn, back a step. Marked lameness = vet.
  • Wounds/punctures? Any near joints/tendon sheaths → emergency.
  • Fever? ≥101.5°F plus leg swelling → call your vet.
See Side-by-Side What To Do Now

Side-by-Side: Stocking Up vs. Serious Swelling

Feature Stocking Up (Inactivity Edema) Serious Swelling (Examples)
Legs affected Usually both hinds Often one leg (cellulitis, tendon/ligament strain, joint issue, abscess)
Temperature/pain Cool, minimal pain Warm/hot and tender; horse may resent touch
Onset After stall time/hauling Sudden after hard work, slip, puncture, or with fever
Movement effect Improves with 10–15 min walking May worsen or lameness appears with movement
Other clues Soft, even fill; normal attitude Digital pulse, head-bob, wound/ooze, marked asymmetry, fever
Typical response Move → light Gel → optional clean wraps Vet exam; cool calmly; protect limb; follow treatment plan

This guide supports barn decision-making; it doesn’t replace a veterinary diagnosis.

What To Do Now

If it looks like stocking up

  1. Hand-walk 10–15 minutes or light turnout.
  2. Apply a thin, even layer of DiO 16oz Gel to legs & large muscles.
  3. Use clean standing wraps overnight if that’s your program.
  4. After rides: IceBath™ → CryoSpray® → Gel. Let each step dry.
Thin layers win — heavy coats trap heat

If it looks serious

  1. Stable quietly; limit movement.
  2. Quick gentle cool if tolerated (IceBath™ pass), then stop and call your vet.
  3. Do not probe wounds or apply harsh topicals. Protect the area clean/dry.
  4. Follow veterinary plan (imaging, meds, controlled exercise).
When in doubt: cool first, then call
Post-Ride Routine Shop Equine Line

Quick Reference — Scenarios & Plays

Scenario What To Do Products
Morning puff after stall Walk 10–15 min → thin Gel → clean wraps if desired DiO 16oz Gel
After a hard ride (heat present) IceBath™ → CryoSpray® → thin Gel; wraps overnight IceBath™ · CryoSpray® · DiO 16oz Gel
One leg hot, painful, feverish Quiet stall → call vet; gentle cool only if advised —
Won’t bear weight / severe lameness Emergency vet; protect limb; do not medicate without guidance —
Boot rubs / scurf Clean/dry → feather-thin cream → let set before gear Rapid Relief Cream
Consistency beats intensity

Red Flags — Call Your Vet

  • Non-weight-bearing or rapidly worsening lameness
  • Hot, painful one-leg swelling or fever ≥101.5°F
  • Deep cuts/punctures, especially near joints/tendon sheaths
  • Swelling that climbs the limb or doesn’t improve in 24–48 hrs
  • Any penetrating wound to a joint/hoof; suspected hoof abscess with severe pain

Topicals support comfort; they don’t replace diagnosis or treatment.

FAQ

How do I tell stocking up from cellulitis?
Stocking up: cool, painless, often both hinds, improves with movement. Cellulitis: hot, painful, usually one leg, possible fever and lameness—call your vet.
Can I ride if my horse “just stocks up” overnight?
If legs are cool and the horse is sound, light work often helps. Heat, pain, or any lameness—do not ride; consult your vet.
Cold hosing vs. IceBath™—which is better?
Use what you have. IceBath™ is an efficient no-rinse whole-body cool; cold hosing targets one area. Many barns do IceBath™ then CryoSpray® on hot spots.
Can I wrap over Draw It Out® Gel?
Yes. Apply a thin, even layer under clean, dry wraps and check legs at each change.
How long should stocking up take to resolve?
Often within hours after movement and routine. If swelling persists, becomes painful, or recurs aggressively—call your vet.
What if swelling returns after adding trot work?
Back up a level in work, restart strict cooling, and consult your veterinarian—small setbacks handled early prevent big ones.

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