What causes ventral edema in horses?

Ventral Edema What it is: An accumulation of fluid under the skin that’s settled to the lowest point of your horse’s core, thanks to gravity. The fluid most commonly originates from inflammation somewhere in the body, such as an allergic reaction or some kind of trauma.

How do you treat ventral edema in horses?

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.

What is ventral edema?

Ventral edema is also known as udder edema and is the accumulation of fluid in the interstitial tissues of the mammary gland and tissues cranial and caudal to the udder.

What can mimic colic in horses?

Urinary or kidney disease. Pain in the abdominal cavity or just outside the abdomen can cause horses to stretch out or have issues urinating, which can look like colic. Bladder stones, kidney failure or a tumor in the urethra can all cause these reactions.

How can you tell if a horse’s skin is swollen?

It is difficult to detect the redness of inflammation with the highly pigmented skin of most horses so swelling, heat, and pain are the hallmarks in horses. Not all swellings are inflammatory. Noninflammatory swellings are no different in temperature than the surrounding non-swollen areas and are not painful.

What are the signs of inflammation in horses?

Inflammation is recognized by redness, heat, swelling, and pain. It is difficult to detect the redness of inflammation with the highly pigmented skin of most horses so swelling, heat, and pain are the hallmarks in horses. Not all swellings are inflammatory.

What causes lumps, bumps and swellings in horses?

Trauma is one of the most common causes of lumps, bumps and swellings. Often, the new horse in the paddock has been kicked by another or the horse has hit an object – the fence or a tree being common culprits. Inflammation by pathological definition causes redness, heat, pain and swelling.

What causes a horse’s stomach to swell up?

Fly-bites can also cause a swelling on the stomach. If the swelling isn’t responsive to exercise, it may be due to a lymphatic blockage. Another cause can be ‘pigeon fever’, which gets its name from the pronounced swelling on the horse’s chest which brings to mind a pigeon puffing out its chest.