Foal and contracted legs need advice

wgc517 · Postby **wgc517** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 3:30 pm

My foal is 12 days old and he is still a little contracted in both legs. The vet tried to give him tetracycline today and after 4 or 5 tries I told him to stop, not bc I didn't think it would work but I felt the foal was getting a little too stressed. I expect the vet to be able to get in less tries, may be I am expecting too much. I trust the vet and maybe I was being too much of a Dad but just got a little too pissed with all the tries. So I asked him to stop.

He is coming back Wednesday to ultrasound my other mares. Should I give the TCN or will they correct themselves. This is my first foal.
We also had wrapped his legs for 3 days and they improved but not as much as we wanted.

Shannon · Postby **Shannon** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 3:39 pm

I'd say go with the tetracycline and splints. I worked with a vet in an area where contracted tendnons was VERY common due to mineral imbalances in the soil, water and resulting hay crops. We almost always treated with the tet. and splints, but usually a lot earlier than 12 days of age, and I think they say its efficacy is reduced the later it gets administered, but I can't recall the guidelines. We also use a lot of correcive shoeing (glue ons) along with splints on milder cases, and older foals past the "best if used by date". But several of those needed the surgery later on or never came fully around. I took part in several of the tendon surgeries, all except one were highly effective. A few of them went on to be decent jumpers and barrel/rope horses with no related soundness issues yet, after 8 years post surgery.

foothillsequine · Postby **foothillsequine** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 4:03 pm

Some questions for you...has the foal been turned out at all or kept inside a stall? How badly contracted are the legs? Do you have a pic you could post? Honestly, I have seen some pretty crooked foals and they have always straightened out on their own. We had one a few years ago, that I was really concerned about and almost took the route of splints and TCN, however we didn't. We turned him out and he was just fine by the time he was a few months old. He is now in race training, and is very correct, and will soon start in his first race..it seems once they start running around, things come together. Now, this is just my experience and opinion, but perhaps you should get a second vet's opinion? Good luck!

clh · Postby **clh** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 5:04 pm

I too have used the tetracycline but at the same time the foal was being turned out and getting exercise and using those muscles. Ease up some on the vet, I'm sure they can't all be experts like mine who always and I seriously mean always, gets it done on the first try. Perhaps the holder wasn't holding tight enough

. Grab that puppy's tail up in the air and grab it around the neck and let the vet do it's work

Splints are also very helpful. A good farrier is worth his weight in gold as a baby grows and there is nothing too good for him (fans in the summer, cold drinks, etc...

). Good luck!

tbrace · Postby **tbrace** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 9:45 pm

Just keep him/her out and let her run. Good nutrition and excercise.

wgc517 · Postby **wgc517** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 4:06 am

I appreciate all of the suggestions, and maybe you are right the holder was probably the problem. As far as letting him out, I have read that you should keep them in the stall to limit exercise. The vet says to limit his exercise and keep him in but most of you seem to say let him out. The baby loves to run and be outside but want to do the right thing. Any new articles I can refer to. The ones I saw say keep him limited.
TY

wgc517 · Postby **wgc517** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 4:30 am

Another thought is could it be the feed. I am using Strategy GX which has Ca conc of 1.00 to 1.30 %. Thoughts?

clh · Postby **clh** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 6:12 am

Again, photos would help for the armchair quarterbacks here

It would depend on the amount of contractures, and you generally want to follow your vets suggestion, but most of us have found that turn-out and exercise "usually" helps the most.

foothillsequine · Postby **foothillsequine** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 6:50 am

Strategy GX is great for an older horse, but personally I would use a grain that is specifically formulated for pregnant mares and foals. We use LMF Development G or A, depending on what type of hay they are fed the most. G is for grass, A is for alfalfa. However, at 12 days old, their diet is milk, and usually just trying mom's grain. Once they are eating grain daily, we also add a daily feed through wormer. A good vitamin/mineral supplement is also given shortly after birth. We use Mineral Max, but there are others out there such as Foal Aide. The only reason we don't use that is we can't get it here, however I believe it is available over the net.

There are many schools of thought regarding turning out or limiting exercise in crooked babies. If you are concerned regarding different opinions, put the baby out on an alternating schedule, one day in, one day out. Personally, I would put the baby out, and monitor. Once they are moving around, the muscles start to strengthen and assist in pulling things together. I have a friend who has a colt by Cozzene, who was so darn crooked you wouldn't think he could walk, however 24/7 turnout, and that baby is perfectly correct, and is a Stakes winner now entering his 3 year old year, and was named the New England 2 yr old colt/gelding of the year. I do agree with clh regarding "the amount of contractures", so pics would be helpful. At any rate, best of luck with the baby....

barnchick · Postby **barnchick** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 3:53 pm

I would think it should have been given when the IGG was done. At this age, you are the boss. if ears and tail have to be used...then do it. A small safe turnout is usually useful. Time is your enemy now. Trims (rasping mostly) every 10 days or as soon as there is even a rasp or two to go, is what I have always done. Whenever the farrier is in the barn, have him/her take a look. I jhave had them re-contract at 6 months after a good oxy-tet catch and fix at a day old. The second was grim, but with rasping he made it to the sale, and to race for new owners. He wasn't fast, but that was pedigree. The Vet had given a "grave prognosis" for even pasture soundness at the second incident. Hang tough.....babies can amaze you but they can't overcome everything without help.

photofinish · Postby **photofinish** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 3:55 pm

I never equate "contracted" with "crooked" alot of the "crooked" ones they say, now, to limit turnout for the first 2 weeks or so. But "contracted" babies need to stretch those tendons and ligaments out.
I just had a colt 3-18 who was severely contracted in the RF, one of the worst I have seen. Doc put him on 1cc of Ketofin 2x a day for 3 days and by 3-21 he was 100% correct so need for the tetracycline. The premise of the Ketofin was that it hurts them when the tendons/ligaments are stretching out so much and the more comfortable you make them, the more they will use them and thus stretch them out, it worked in my case, thank goodness.The tet can be hairy to get into the squirmy, little things, I agree. Doc here says she puts the 30cc into a 500ml saline ringer to dilute it and runs a catheter. Probably the safest way, really.

Good luck with your guy!

barnchick · Postby **barnchick** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 5:31 pm

Good point. There is such a thing as a pain contracture. With my little guy, we used banamine and a safe small level turnout area., and then moved him to a regular paddock with 24 hour turnout within a few weeks of the second contraction just after weaning. The oral banamine was enough. This decision was made (by the owner) to keep the cost of what the vet thought was a hopeless case down, and it worked . It took some time untill he ran around with his buddy, and the raspings carried on 'till sales time. He did appear clubby for quite some time, but was even by the time the sept. sales came around. I did watch his races (as a 3 year old for new owner), and he did knuckle over out of the gate in his first few races, I always wondered if it was the cause. The improvement in babies with lax or contactions, or even bone defects can amaze me though.

Travis · Postby **Travis** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 3:58 pm

Sorry guys I've never bred a horse but I've been following this thread just because I am interested anything TB horse related. So bear with me please and maybe there are more readers like me...

Can anybody spend a minute and explain what this "contracted" foal is going thru and also why would antibiotics like Tetracycline help?

Thank you.

foothillsequine · Postby **foothillsequine** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:02 pm

The school of thought surrounding tetracycline and contracted tendons is that the contractions are caused by too much calcium. Supposedly the tetracycline ties up the excess calcium and the tendons relax or lengthen.

photofinish · Postby **photofinish** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:59 pm

The few "phone pics" I took of mine last Friday (12 hrs old) didn't come out well, but here is one from Monday at 3 1/2 days old. He was so contracted at birth the RF heel couldn't touch the ground, he alternately toed or hopped. Thank God it was unilateral, if it had been bilateral he would not have been able to stand at all. He is 100% fine now.