foal's knee burst - growing too fast, cartilage issue?

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KimberleyH

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Hi, looking for some advice

10 days ago: foal very lame, couldn't bend knee. Vet out, xray, says cartilage growing too quickly in knee joint, causing the lameness.

4 days ago: vet checks knee, happy that foal is less lame, says knee will stay large for many months

Today: Notice knee has burst open, leaving a wound the size of a 50p coin. Wound cleaned, dressed and bandaged.


Looking for advice on antibiotic therapy. Have you had a similar problem, did you use antibiotics, which antibiotics are suitable for youngsters?

Thanks a lot :)
 
Most antibiotics would be suitable however an open wound over the joint, especially on a foal needs a vet visit asap.
 
He's not lame at all on it tonight which is something...
He's just over 8 months old
He had an xray and temp checked 10d ago and vet was quite sure it was not bacterial. Just wondering if anyone has experience of this (can't remember exactly what the vet called it, fasciitis perhaps??) I've no idea whats made huge wound. I noticed it this morning, proceeded to bathe it, and the large scab just fell right off... looked like it had leaked a lot overnight?
 
Tiddlypom said:
So you haven't had the vet back out to see him today?

It's impossible to tell what might have happened by asking on a forum, but it sounds like it needs an urgent visit by a vet. The joint could be compromised.
Click to expand...

^this - vet ASAP or you could end up with a horse that is never sound
 
Fides said:
^this - vet ASAP or you could end up with a horse that is never sound
Click to expand...
I had a 4year old sec D PTS after he went lame behind, the x ray of his hock showed massive bony malformation from an untreated joint ill before I owned him, and that I knew nothing about. There were no external signs that anything was wrong.

The vet just said 'Oh ******' when he put the plates up on the screen.

Time is of the essence.
 
KimberleyH said:
He's not lame at all on it tonight which is something...
He's just over 8 months old
He had an xray and temp checked 10d ago and vet was quite sure it was not bacterial. Just wondering if anyone has experience of this (can't remember exactly what the vet called it, fasciitis perhaps??) I've no idea whats made huge wound. I noticed it this morning, proceeded to bathe it, and the large scab just fell right off... looked like it had leaked a lot overnight?
Click to expand...

Could you mean epiphysitis? Usually the cause is over-feeding or a mineral and vitamin imbalance (caused by incorrect nutrition) - it can be associated with osteochondrosis too. In any case, if your vet thinks it is non bacterial then a course of antibiotics won't help. Could the scrape on the knee just be incidental, might he have knocked it somehow? It can lead to contracted tendons if the condition continues.
 
I know the previous issue was caused by over-feeding possibly as the cartilage was growing too fast for the rest of the joint to keep up?
I didn't call the vet out, but I spoke to one. She recommended changing the bandage daily, and wiping the wound clean with hibiscrub. Its really difficult knowing when to call the vet or not, particularly with youngsters who are often getting scrapes and cuts! I think "burst" may have been the wrong word to use, but I've no idea how that wound got there still. I think it may have been incidental that it occurred on the knee that was already quite large.

The foal is totally fine and perfectly sound. It took a little while to heal, but it did eventually. Thanks for all the replies.
 
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