What to Know About Stocking Up

swollen limb and a very lame horse.
Horses with cellulitis have a leg that is hot to the touch and may be oozing serum. Depending on the extent of the infection the horse may have a fever be lethargic and not want to eat. This condition can spread to the local lymph vessels. When this happens it is called lymphangitis and is managed the same way as cellulitis. Quick treatment with aggressive antibiotics is required so if you suspect cellulitis have your veterinarian out as quickly as possible.
Vasculitis is another cause for acute swelling in the limbs. The medical term for the inflammation of blood vessels vasculitis is often viral in origin. Any horse with swollen limbs and a fever should be evaluated promptly by a veterinarian.
Horses Prone to Stocking Up
Some horses seem to be more prone to stocking up than others. Older horses in general tend to stock up frequently. This is thought to occur because their lymphatic system isnt as effective as it used to be leading to more fluid accumulation. This may also be a function of an animal that is reluctant to move due to osteoarthritis or other chronic conditions.
Dehydrated horses also tend to stock up more easily. This is something to keep in mind after a long hard ride or competition or when its extremely hot outside. Horses that have had cellulitislymphangitis in the past may also stock up more frequently in the previously infected leg if there was significant damage to the lymph vessels at the time of the infection.
Prevention
At face value the prevention of stocking up is simple keep the horse outside as much as possible. However many horse owners dont have adequate pasture access or have other restrictions that preclude full turnout and thats OK. Its important to note that a truly stockedup

horse is not in pain sick or injured. Swollen legs in this instance wont affect his wellbeing or athletic pursuits.
Some prefer to use standing wraps on horses to prevent stocking up. The use of wraps should be evaluated based on an individual horses environment use health and your ability and expertise in applying them.
One issue with standing wraps is cleanliness sweat dirt and debris can easily turn these wraps into bacterial breeding grounds setting the horse up for chronic skin conditions. Wraps that are applied too tightly may further impede circulation and the flow of lymph and over time they
may be counterproductive in preventing swelling.
Similarly topical products such as poultices or liniments shouldnt be relied upon for longterm management since overuse may also negatively impact the health of the thin skin on the horses legs. The simplest method to reduce stocking up is to increase your horses time out of the stall.
Once correctly identified stocking up in your horse can go from a worry to no big deal. With a little understanding and observation this fluid accumulation shouldnt be cause for alarm.