Diagnosing and treating cellulitis in horses

Background: Cellulitis is a commonly observed condition in horses, which often requires an urgent or emergency veterinary visit. The condition often presents with acute-onset diffuse limb swelling, heat, pitting oedema and pain on palpation of the affected limb. Lameness is variable but can be severe and the horse may display signs of extreme discomfort, alongside tachycardia, tachypnoea and pyrexia. Risk factors such as blunt trauma, recent wounds, recent surgery or recent injections have been identified, and studies suggest that cellulitis is more common in the hindlimbs than forelimbs.

Aim of the article: This article provides an overview of the physiology of oedema formation and discusses the diagnosis and treatment options available for cases of cellulitis in horses.