I have a 17'3" ID who sustained a kick injury to his hind leg shin (canon bone) about 2inches below the front of the hock joint. He was lame for a couple of weeks and was on bute and box rest.
It was very hard to heal as the cut was deep and dirty. It has now healed beautifully and he is sound, this is about 6 weeks later now, however, he still has a swelling just to the left of the injury.
It feels very much like a haematoma consistency, reduces in size after work or when out and if left unbandaged this 'pocket' comes up. The leg itself doesn't swell, it is literally like a pocket of fluid. It is slightly warmer when swollen but nothing major and he is completely sound. I can squeeze it and prod it and move it around and he never flinches, and for him if there was the tiniest bit of pain he'd be rolling around in agony!!
any ideas what it could be, can you get haematoma's anywhere? or is it more likely to be tendon/ligament damage?? this pocket swelling has only come up in the last couple of weeks

Gentle massage often can disperse a hematoma but it is always best to seek the advice of a Vet (I am not a Vet) A chronic hematoma still requires Veterinary attention and will probably if not decreased by massage need surgery to drain it. Since it has been 6 weeks since the accident I would seek aVet's advice A.S.A.P so that a possible ultrasound can be arranged in case it is not obviously diagnosed. You can get hematomas at the site of an injury as they are literally blood blisters but are classified according to how long they take to develop and where abouts they are. Have you tried cold hosing? I would get a professional out and ask advice.
Best of luck.

Hi, Sarah,
From your description this is a fluid-filled bursa, which may well disappear spontaneously in time. It would be best to have your vet look at it - draining it and putting a little long-action steroid may well fix it completely.
Walter

Am cold hosing at the minute as spoken to vet and he has advised to do this and pooultice for a week and see if there is much change. I can ride him a tleast but aesthetically may need to get it drained. Thanks for your advice

This is what my vet has advised after I try cold hosing and poultice for a week... Thanks for your advice

Hi, Sarah,
Hope all goes well.
Walter

Thanks for your advice

Me too!! typical competition time, I'm sure he does this to himself!!

Thanks again