So my sister-in-law just had her first foal born on the 12th. It's right front leg had contracted tendons, first it was just walking on tip-toe but by the afternoon of the first day it was knuckling over and walking on the front of the hoof. Vet was out the first day and administered tetracycline and wrapped the leg. The next day (13th), the wrap didn't seem to be helping and the foal was still walking on the front of the hoof. She wasn't able to get ahold of the vet until that evening, by which point she and her hubby had already re-fashioned one of their kids old orthotic leg braces for the baby and had him walking on the sole of his hoof. By the next morning (14th), between the brace and probably the tetracycline kicking in, baby was walking on the hoof as he should without the brace. Of course, now he is extra loose in the other legs too, which she was warned would happen.
I don't have any experience with contracted tendons, I've had foals with lax tendons that were pretty much normal in 3-5 days. But these foals were lax in the fetlocks and their knees were still sturdy. This guy was over at the knees initially, but now after the tetra shot they are bending backwards quite a bit. She's just questioning whether she should wrap any vet wrap around them for some extra support, or whether she should just let him be for now. Mare and foal are currently still in their (outdoor, partially covered) foaling stall, which is relatively roomy (40'x 40'). Experiences? How long does it take for the "noodle" effect of tetracycline to wear off?
Contracted Tendons & Tetracycline
