Poorly foal feet

Equus Leather

Equus Leather

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 May 2006
Messages
4,898
Location
Up North
www.virtualdressage.co.uk
Hello,

Am asking this question on behalf of a friend, hope someone can help!

The mare foaled 2 weeks ago, and was very protective over the foal, not letting anyone near it. Now the foal seems to be walking on it's tip-toes, rather than on it's full feet.

Any ideas?

Cheers
The Psephologist
 
M

Maggie2

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 May 2003
Messages
634
Visit site
Yes, and it needs attention NOW. It has contracted tendons and the farrier and vet need to see the foal urgently to assess treatment or else it will have club feet. It wil need its heels to be lowered and possibly toe extenders glued on.

It will need to have exercise restricted and not have a deep bed or else the toes will dig deeper down and make it worse. Feed value needs reducing in the mare so that energy is restricted in the milk.

I am sure if you Google contracted tendons you'll find pictures as a comparison.
 
J

judymoon

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 August 2006
Messages
64
Visit site
It does have contracted tendons, i agree, but club foot is a different matter. If you dont attend to it the foal will be irrevocably damaged. Get your vet and farrier as advised above ASAP. What can happen, depending on severity, is a number of things. Bandaging the affected limbs will relax tendons and bandaging can be taken to gel casts in severe cases. An alluminium shoe that elevates the foot thus relaxing the tendon then when the shoe is removed (weeks) the tendon has relaxed enough to strectch to normal limits, also certain injectables can help, the antibiotic LA200, also knon as terecycline (excuse spelling) can help relax young tendons ( i saw the results of a new vet injecting LA200 on a large number of foals as an antibiotic and the state the foals were in the following days, v. v. v. relaxed almost an the floor)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top