Filled hind leg, weanling

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foxy1

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My 5 1/2 month old weaned foal has a filled hind leg, from below hock to fetlock. Looks like he may have a small cut and an infection, but he is not very well handled and won't let me have a good look. He's not lame. If I call the vet, the foal will need to be sedated to be examined, and I can't imagine how I will administer any antibiotics as he doesn't eat hard feed and if I try to inject him every day I should imagine by day 2 I won't catch him!!
Is it wise to give antibiotics to a foal ths age unless absolutely necessary?
In an older horse I wouldn't be worried but what would breeders do in this situation?

Thanks in advance for your wisdom :)
 
Has he had any tetanus shots yet? If not I think you're going to have to bite the bullet and be nasty to be kind in that you don't want the infection to get any worse so it needs sorting.
If he has had some shots then I suppose you could just give him a decent squirt of purple spray and hope for the best but I would personally want it looked at and ask for long lasting injectable ABs if he's not eating hard feed yet but that also begs the question of why was he weaned if he's not eating hard food already unless you bought him in already weaned of course (in which case I'm not criticizing you at all just to make that clear!).
Look on the bright side, it will give you a kick start on handling him!
 
I have a weanling in the same situation, she is having her hind leg dressed and rebandaged every couple of days and antibiotic granuals disolved in water and squirted down her throat every day. I am afraid you will just have to bite the bullet and start handling your foal. How is he for the farrier?
 
Agree with both of the above, you need AB's asap, it won't go away on its own and will only get worse.
This is why we handle foals from the start (obviously if you've just got him then it's not your fault!), then things like this aren't an issue.
Also agree with Maesfen on the feed issue, most foals share with mum from an early age so this is quite strange.
 
Totally agree with all the ^^^^. The foal sounds like it needs vet attention and that may well only be the one visit with an IV jab of long acting AB's and anti inflammatory. Foals can go downhill faster than you can blink and so if it means getting baby in and getting handled I'm afraid you will have to do it for their sake.
 
Thank you all for replies, I have just bought him, he was eating before weaning but now he has moved away from his home he doesn't want to eat any more! We also have tons of grass so he probably isn't really hungry.

I've done so well making friends with him I didn't want to set him back, but think I will have to bite the bullet. I did speak to the vet today but they can't say without seeing it of course.
 
I think he must have had a tetanus as he was castrated when he was still with mum, I'm sure that he would have?

I should email the breeder to ask, but I've only had him a week and so far I've been unable to catch him, I can't get him to eat, he has jumped over an electric fence and a 5 foot hedge, and now this! She must be wondering what sort of useless idiot she sold her foal to!!
 
foxy1 said:
I think he must have had a tetanus as he was castrated when he was still with mum, I'm sure that he would have?

I should email the breeder to ask, but I've only had him a week and so far I've been unable to catch him, I can't get him to eat, he has jumped over an electric fence and a 5 foot hedge, and now this! She must be wondering what sort of useless idiot she sold her foal to!!
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If the tetanus jab is not recorded on his passport (he DOES have a passport??) then don't count on it!

It's perfectly normal for a weanling to be unsettled when moved to a new home - and I would advise you to get him into a stable now and handle him. And if that means 3 strong people quietly cornering him in a stable and putting a headcollar on him, don't worry - it won't hurt him. Keep him in for a day or two and treat the wound - and handle him as much as you possibly can! Hanging around to 'make friends' doesn't generally work too well when they're in a field - if they can run away, they will - and each time they do it they've learned (again) what a successful strategy it is!
 
Ditto JG - I have a now 2 yr old who when bought as a 5 month old weanling had never been handled at all except for being pinned for her microchip....we herded her into trailer and then a stable and she lived in for the first 2 weeks (with turnout in the school) and by the end of the time she was an angel and from the second she went out into the field remained the easiest horse in the world to catch and is the easiest of all to do anything with!
 
oh jack is playing hard to get i see!!!! this foal knows how to play you!!! he is great when you have hold of him, does hold a grudge when you do nasty things and hold it for days!!!! i know i bred him and yes he does have a passport janet!!! did the transport leave you with his headcollar on?? dont be afraid to grab hold and tell him this is how its going to be, he's had his feet done, had his bits played with before sedation to geld so he knows what its all about. he will need tetenus as he only had antitoxin after gelding, sent you an email will give you a call tommorrow!!
 
Yes they left headcollar on and I took it off!! Doh!!!

Got your email thanks!! I'm sure he thinks I'm a complete soft touch :D
 
Just a quick update, vet came today and had a good look. It's a kick but doesn't need any further treatment as healing well on it's own.

Vet also commented what lovely condition the foal is in (thanks to Koeffee :D)
 
thankyou, just hope the fool settles down now!!!! definatly pushing the boundries to see how far he can push it!!!
 
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