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Veteran
Posts: 189
 
| Do any of you have any experience with joint ill in a foal? We have one 4 or 5 weeks old. He has some swelling in the rear fetlocks. The swelling is hard not soft. Isn't running a temp, runs and plays like a wild man, nurses etc. Local vet said leave it alone as he isn't lame. Any ideas? |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
  
| Michigan State University - College of Veterinary Medicine
REMAIN VIGILANT — Horse owners need to closely watch their foals over the next several weeks and continue to monitor the navel. If it appears swollen, warm, or draining, owners should contact their veterinarian immediately.
Also, a veterinarian should be contacted if any signs of lameness are detected or a joint becomes warm, distended, or painful. The quicker and more aggressively a joint problem is treated; the better the chance for a good outcome.
Other common sites of localized infections are the foal’s joints, often called “joint ill.” These infections can potentially cause irreversible damage to the cartilage and joint capsules.
Foals are at a disadvantage in fighting these types of infections, because their immune systems although competent have not experienced these organisms. Immediate and aggressive treatment is necessary to fight these infections. Long-term antibiotic treatment and joint lavage may be needed.
Most foals with joint infections can survive when aggressively treated, but may suffer from chronic lameness problems due to joint damage. The quicker the problem is recognized and aggressive treatment (joint lavage) is started, the better the outcome.
From me:
Find a different vet, one that will take this a bit more seriously. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2258
| I had a colt with it 4yrs ago. He was only a few days old and I caught it right away. He was very sick I stayed up with him all night the first night so I could stand him up to eat and just make sure he didn't lay down to long at a time. He was on antibiotics and I doctored his navel multiple times a day with vetericyn. He recovered fine and has no soundness problems from it but like I said I noticed he didn't feel well. I have seen others and they were sick, no playing and lame while sick. |
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 Canine Carryout Queen
Location: Oklahoma | Please do not "wait and see" ... Id get baby started on Naxcel right away! |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 452
Location: Alberta | I would not leave it and find a different vet. If he has swelling and a temp then there is obviously infection, just cause he is acting normal now doesn't mean he won't go down hill fast. Draft horse foals seem to be prone to naval ill so my inlaws have dealt with it quite a few times and have lost a few from it also. I would get it on excenel right away; penecillin isn't strong enough and make sure it's in an area where it can stay clean, better to be in a clean stall. |
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Location: South Dakota | I would get the foal to the vet.......it can be very serious...
We lost a calf to navel ill... |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 620
Location: Bixby, Ok | If the foal is acting normal and not running a temp. I would not just start administering antibiotics. However, I would get a bcc run to determine if infection is in any way related. Most joint or naval ill foals will be sick within the first 7-14 days during which time the navel is drying up and sealing off. This colt is past that stage but not every horse reads the book so be vigilant but not careless with over use of antibiotics on a youngster.Dr Stacy |
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Veteran
Posts: 189
| This colt has no temp, runs until he is sweating! The swelling is hard. I did everything by the book. he got his navel iodined, tetanus shot and enema within an hour of birth. He doesn't act sick at all. He is bright eye and bushy tailed! LOL I'll see about another vet.
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 Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | Are you sure it's joint ill and not epyphisitis? |
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