Orthopaedic specialists - anyone???? V long

[irish_only]

I have a very bizarre case.
6 week old foal went slightly lame in front and pottery. Brought in and checked, didn't like what I saw on the sole so got vet out. Vet confirmed pedal bone through the sole. Checked other front foot and the same. X-rayed the following day and pedal bones in both front rotated. Hinds are fine. No raised digital pulse, temperature fine.

What we have done so far: padded and supported feet, antibiotics.
In himself the foal is very bright and chirpy. Squeaks around the stable, jumps on his mum, tries to beat us up when mucking out etc.

All bloods normal. The x-rays have beens sent all over the world, and no-one has come back and said yes they have seen this before.

Now the dilemma. We will continue to support his feet, take photo's twice a week to monitor any change, and will x-ray again in 2-3 weeks to see if there has been any improvement. There needs to be significant positive changes and a hopeful prognosis for us to continue and keep this boy alive, if not we are going to have to pts what in every other way is a healthy, happy, bouncy foal. Surgical treatment for us is not an option. The cost will almost certainly outweigh anything like his value, and we are not in a position to spend money willy nilly.

Does anyone know, anywhere, a specialist who would be interested in taking him on? I would rather give him to a hospital where someone can assess and decide whether they want to try mending him and use him for research, than waste his life completely and just end up donating his front feet

Don't beat me up please. I am good at making decisions about when enough is enough, but this chap doesn't look at me asking for help, he wonders how he can play with me and get away with it, and as a very good vet friend one said, "they tell you when they have had enough", and this little chap hasn't.

 

[SusieT]

Don't think any hospitals will take him on but it is worth you asking the major university hospitals, particularly those which have a reputation for equines. On the other hand, does your vet actually have any treatment options on offer? Can't imagine surgery would be the answer, more likely it would be supportive shoeing? why have his pedal bones rotated? psany pics?

 

[YasandCrystal]

I asked hubby who has done a lot of remedial farriery work over the years and he has had one similar. That one had to be pts because it had such a bad abcess that caused the pedal bone to penetrate the sole in a big way, the foal was only a few weeks old.
He was saying it can be a laminitic condition where the mare's milk is too rich that causes it.

he also said that it is possible in his opinion to save the foal through corrective trimmong every few weeks and keeping those feet packed and supported. He has had a lot of success in getting the pedal bone back as it should be after rotation in severe cases of laminitis, but it does take time, patience and regular farriery work.
Good Luck! He sounds like he deserves a chance

 

[irish_only]

I asked hubby who has done a lot of remedial farriery work over the years and he has had one similar. That one had to be pts because it had such a bad abcess that caused the pedal bone to penetrate the sole in a big way, the foal was only a few weeks old.
He was saying it can be a laminitic condition where the mare's milk is too rich that causes it.

he also said that it is possible in his opinion to save the foal through corrective trimmong every few weeks and keeping those feet packed and supported. He has had a lot of success in getting the pedal bone back as it should be after rotation in severe cases of laminitis, but it does take time, patience and regular farriery work.
Good Luck! He sounds like he deserves a chance

Thanks for this.
The pedal bone is clean as a whistle, no infection, and we have been putting sugardine on it to keep it that way. He is such a little treasure, he offers his foot when we are changing the pads.

I will speak to my farrier and vet and see what we can do.

He has been out with mum today, the 1st time in 3 weeks, and was hoolying around the field feeling very jolly.

SusieT, we have no idea how or why this has happened. It is the mares 4th foal and all the others have been fine. Management or feeding hasn't changed, nor grazing. We have had one suggestion that maybe his pedal bone wasn't fully developed, but other than that a complete blank.

I'll sort some pics out.