help please my sec d foal isnt walking correctly at all !!!

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juevans

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Hi
Im seriously worried about my sec d foal, hes not walking correctly on his hind legs at all and also doesnt stand correctly, its hard to describe but when standing its like his fetlock joint on his hind legs are forced forward and in walk the joint looks like it pops out, more on one leg than the other,there is no swelling or heat he will let me touch them and he isnt lame.He does need his feet trimming which is being done on monday as there is a lot of toe on (not been done as I needed to teach him to pick up all his feet which he is now doing) Im now thinking all sorts like wobblers etc as he is very leggy foal hoping someone as some suggestions as Iv never seen anything like it before.
 
juevans said:
Hi
Im seriously worried about my sec d foal, hes not walking correctly on his hind legs at all and also doesnt stand correctly, its hard to describe but when standing its like his fetlock joint on his hind legs are forced forward and in walk the joint looks like it pops out, more on one leg than the other,there is no swelling or heat he will let me touch them and he isnt lame.He does need his feet trimming which is being done on monday as there is a lot of toe on (not been done as I needed to teach him to pick up all his feet which he is now doing) Im now thinking all sorts like wobblers etc as he is very leggy foal hoping someone as some suggestions as Iv never seen anything like it before.[/QUOT
Dont waste time on here, just get a vet out! How the feck are we meant to know!
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Merry Crisis said:
juevans said:
Hi
Im seriously worried about my sec d foal, hes not walking correctly on his hind legs at all and also doesnt stand correctly, its hard to describe but when standing its like his fetlock joint on his hind legs are forced forward and in walk the joint looks like it pops out, more on one leg than the other,there is no swelling or heat he will let me touch them and he isnt lame.He does need his feet trimming which is being done on monday as there is a lot of toe on (not been done as I needed to teach him to pick up all his feet which he is now doing) Im now thinking all sorts like wobblers etc as he is very leggy foal hoping someone as some suggestions as Iv never seen anything like it before.[/QUOT
Dont waste time on here, just get a vet out! How the feck are we meant to know!
Click to expand...

yeah thanks for that reply but really wasnt necessary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Well if you don't want to call the vet maybe try posting this in breeding, but I suspect most people will suggest the same.
 
A coloured cob does it which is kept at my yard, exactly what you describe. He's never been seen by the vet for it as the owners just keep the horses in the field and do absolutely nothing with them. He's done it for as long as I can remember and I always look at it and think something isn't right.. It's not 'normal' so something is going on that shouldn't be I should imagine. He's never been lame on them and it's only his hinds which do it.

As others have suggested as your horse is only young it would definitely be worth a visit or check up from your vet. Hope this helps... :)
 
How old is your foal? It isn't unusual for young foals to be a bit "down" on their fetlocks, especially if they are big foals. It usually rights itself completely in a few months.
What you describe does sound fairly extreme though, and it is very important indeed to trim foals correctly. A long toe definately will not help.

As others have said, it would be sensible to get a vet to check this foal as soon as possible though.
 
Not sure either, but some issues foals will grow out of and some they need help with, I would at least get the vet to look at it. They should be able to give you some alternatives, I would not leave something like this without vet opinion, because the earlier the vet is called the more likely they are able to do something, if action is required. If left, they may not be able to fix so easily at a later date.
 
I've had a fair amount of experience with wobblers and doesn't sound like that to me at all. Definitely get the vet out as any problems are best to be treated now (especially with growth plates starting to close) and if your vet can't come out before your farrier, ask him if he has had experience of this. Could be a number of things-needs shoeing, injury, conformational defect etc etc. Couldn't really say without seeing it as it's likely we've all pictures something completely different in our heads
 
I know exactly what you are describing, at least I think so from your description.

The fetlock joints of the hinds go forward rather than backward(normal) when the horse is resting or non weight bearing - yes? Sound familiar?

I had the Vet out to see a colt because of this - according to him, and my farrier, it is not uncommon in youngsters and they usually grow out of it.

That is only my experience, and I would echo the advice of everyone else here in that the best person to deal with this/put your mind at rest, is the Vet. No harm in asking the opinion of your farrier either.

I am pretty sure that I have a photo somewhere, I'll search for it later.

Can't find it, but the colt in question recently passed a pre-purchase exam with flying colours.
 
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whisp&willow said:
ponyfeet:with regards fig 5: how old is the cob?

just quite interesting, as tego my 40 yr old has one hind which is a bit like that now. vet has looked at it, and she's sound, no heat... just old age and arthritic joint changes they think. ;)
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He's in his teens, not sure on exact age but he's no youngster! I just thought it was his weight and a bit of arthritis which had caused it but obviously not according to that link. He's done it for as long as I can remember and I've been there for 7 years or so! :)
 
Hi thanks for the more helpful replys I have the farrier coming on Monday and the vet after that as needs his feet trimming first. Iv been trawling the net all last night and am now thinking along the lines of Physitis.I was feeding him high protein feeds, as he had no weight on him, but stopped and put him on high fibre cubes and codlavine powder just for his vits and minerals after taking advise from ppl on here, with ad lib haylage too
I have posted a pic below of him he is a sec d colt he will be 8 months first week in December as you can see is very leggy and lean he gets a few hours turn out in grass paddock a day his mum is approx 15 hands and his dad is 15.1 so was bred to be biggish and as always been big from a foal.

fetlocks.jpg
 
please let us know what the vet/farrier says! ;)

from that picture there is a striking resemblance to fig 4 and 5 on the link i posted, and he is about the right age for this flexural issue. (im no vet- but it looks similar to me!)

but then again, there are some pics of phisitis which look similar too.

anyway- i wish you luck, and look forward to hearing how he's getting on. ;)

xx
 
Thanks W&W I will update after hes seen vet and farrier, my intention was never to take advise from here and not call out the vet I just wanted to see if others on here had any experience of anything similar.
 
whisp&willow said:
is it like this...? over halfway down the page... fig4 on wards "flexural deformities at the feltock"

http://canadianveterinarians.net/SpeakerNotes2011/HTML/equine/equine_wilson_03-deformities.html
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wowzers!:eek:

OP, if you don't know what it is, which you don't, call the vet, we are not vets and you haven't even given us pictures to go on, as YF said, you don't want to mess around and wait. You don't say how old your horse is, how long this has been going on, if it is getting progressively worse or if he seems to be in pain or discomfort. What you do say is that you are worried and it looks abnormal. As far as I am concerned if your foal is not looking normal then reach for the phone, not the keyboard.

sorry, read the first page and posted then saw that you had put a pic up on the third page... sorry!
 
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LEAN?????
Am I the only one who thinks this foal is overweight for his age?
It doesn't sound like his diet is balanced at all and this is most probably causing the problems.
Lack of exercise in foals can also bring on issues.
Think you need to seek vets advice on foals management.
 
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