Foal Growth Plates

[springfallstud]

Have any of you experienced ever growing probs in any of your foals, if so what and how did you manage it and what was the outcome? I have heard of a few problems this year and wonder if the grass is almost too rich comparered to last year when everyone was out by July!

 

[Navalgem]

Only a wonky leg which wouldn't straighten so foalie had perineal strip, could drop a plumbline down it now, it's perfect, that was last years foal by my grey mare. This years foal is amazing and has grown loads but i think it might be to do with the top spec feed the mares been getting and she does well by her foals anyway. Vet called her a fresian cow

! - Gives everything to the foal!

 

[Anastasia]

Depends on what the problem is because there can be so many, did you have something specific in mind??

Some foals that go up on toes we sometimes put a wedge shoe on. My mum once had a foal with major growth plate problems whereby the outside of her backlegs grew faster than the inside............thus making her bow legged............unfortunately after two operations at the Dick Vets in Edinburgh she never came home.........................

 

[springfallstud]

aww that is sad. I know of others that have bowed and did come right but each case if different. Nothing specific in mind just curious as a weird breeding year!

 

[mat]

We have been advised to keep the foals a bit lighter if they experience these types of problems... overfeeding can really screw their legs up if they grow too fast!