vitamin supplement for foal with contracted tendons

[oln]

hi, i've got a 4 month old foal with contracted tendons, the vet has suggested giving him a good mineral/vitamin supplement but without increasing his feed intake. does anyone have experience of how and what would be best to give him. many many thanks.

 

[JanetGeorge]

I use Sure Limb - which is designed for breeding and youngstock. It's very palatable - just put a couple of scoops in the feed bowl daily - watch the mare doesn't scoff it all! Has your foal had contracted tendons since birth - or have they developed because he's grown too quickly? If the latter, you need to restrict her diet somewhat too - it's pretty important to slow the growth rate right down.

At what point of the leg are they contracted - above the knee - or below? Has your vet suggested a Terramycin shot (no-one really knows WHY it works - but it seems to in MANY cases. I have a visiting mare whose foal was born with contracted tendons above the knee - quite bad. The first Tm jab improved them by 50% - the 2nd has the job just about fixed - they're about 95% now.

 

[oln]

many thanks janet george ,will get some sure limb today. over the last 2 weeks ive been a bit worried that his hind pasterns havent been quite right, so i cut their food and time out right back. The joint just above the coronary band but below the fetlock is knuckling over and not always coming back down again particularly when he's running around in the field. when the vet saw him he didnt really do it ,i think he had improved. the vet said restrict his turn out to 6 hrs, keep food right back[was only on grass and haylage anyway]and get farrier to trim his feet as the toes were really quite long. anyway the left hind is definitely a little worse since the farrier has been, the right hind seems ok now. sorry a bit long winded, have got worried as am thinking probably the superficial flexor tendon and the prognosis not so good if i cant get it right without surgery.

 

[oln]

sorry ,and he was fine at birth

 

[machannah]

Hi Oln

Did your vet/farrier suggest any shoe extension? Ive just had my 4 month old colt sorted out with something that sounds similar, he had ballerina syndrome in the one of his front legs. Not sure if its the same, but i had mine in over the time when the extension was on the foot, he had it on for 5 weeks and it really has done the trick, i can hardly see the difference now. SN recommended Baileys Foal Assist which I used during the time he was kept in, as it has been used for growth related problems.

My foal grew very quickly, and although unsure think the leg issue may have been related to this.

Hannah

 

[Spyda]

Bailey's do a supplement for foals called Foal Assist. Go to their website direct to order it, that's what I did as couldn't find it anywhere local to me. Can give it from birth up to 6 months or so. I used it last two years with great success.

Would also ditto thinking about the extentions if he's bad.