New colt has front leg problems???

blueeyedpony · 06-10-2008, 05:54 PM

My new colt 5 days old does not seem to be able to straighten his front legs and lock them. He gets up and runs around but does not have his front legs really straight they are always bent just a little at the knee. Has anyone had a problem with this? Will they straighten as he gets older and stronger or do I need to have the vet look at this? Thanks in advance for any help.

JBandRio · 06-10-2008, 06:03 PM

I would definitely have your vet look at things. This might be that he's still straightening out from being folded in his cozy bed for 11 months. OR, it might be that due to some issues he's growing too fast and his tendons are "contracting". I say it that way because the tendons don't really contract, they just don't grow enough to keep up with the bone growth. Better safe than sorry, because if it is contracted tendons, you still have the opportunity to use IV tetracycline to help.

nicz2cu · 06-10-2008, 06:21 PM

My "D" had knees that went together so bad they touched, due to her size and the mother not getting the correct nutrition. When I bought them I immediately changed the feed to mare and foal and they began to grow correctly , today ( she's two ) you would never know that she was knockneed.

Vet is the one who gave me amounts to feed to get them both up to where they should be.

luttrellfarms · 06-10-2008, 06:41 PM

Most of the time they will be okay. You might want to work its legs and put a little pressure on the knees to help them along.

Nicker · 06-10-2008, 07:46 PM

Nicker had leg problems similiar - all along he had turned in cannon bone, this must be checked before 2 months old, and corrected before than. We were advised by vet it was physitis - the cannon bone issue got over looked, he is a yrling and must now be euthanized. I really advise you to not wait too long before checking with vet - ask if the cannon bone is straightened

MistyAcres · 06-11-2008, 07:52 AM

Do you have pistures? How old is he?

mgdhunter · 06-11-2008, 09:23 AM

Foals will tend to straighten up within the first couple of months. If there is a problem, a vet would be a good resource. If you let it go too long, it may be too late to make a correction. Pictures would really help to see the extent of the problem. If you have a concern, call the vet.

Nicker · 06-11-2008, 09:30 PM

We watched my Nicker from similar problems as baby - we never did radiograph at that time - our mistake - have them check his cannon bone alignment up now than again before yes before TWO months old, if they are not proper you can correct this before age two months successfully. WSU vet hospital said he did several even a race horse who is succesfully racer.
We only checked for physitis - for some reason vet here did not catch the turned in cannon bones - its too late for us. Just a word to the wise in case.
Diane

blueeyedpony · 06-27-2008, 07:40 PM

Thanks for all the great answers! Lakota is 3 weeks old now and his legs seem fine. He is growing bigger and stronger every day. Put some pictures on of him and his mom Foxy.

06-10-2008, 05:54 PM	#1
blueeyedpony Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Shelby County Alabama Posts: 3 Images: 6	New colt has front leg problems??? My new colt 5 days old does not seem to be able to straighten his front legs and lock them. He gets up and runs around but does not have his front legs really straight they are always bent just a little at the knee. Has anyone had a problem with this? Will they straighten as he gets older and stronger or do I need to have the vet look at this? Thanks in advance for any help.

06-10-2008, 06:03 PM	#2
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 21,457 Images: 131 Blog Entries: 12	I would definitely have your vet look at things. This might be that he's still straightening out from being folded in his cozy bed for 11 months. OR, it might be that due to some issues he's growing too fast and his tendons are "contracting". I say it that way because the tendons don't really contract, they just don't grow enough to keep up with the bone growth. Better safe than sorry, because if it is contracted tendons, you still have the opportunity to use IV tetracycline to help. __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173) - Rio feels good - he bounced an in-and-out

06-10-2008, 06:21 PM	#3
nicz2cu Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Georgia USA Posts: 1,007 Images: 33	My "D" had knees that went together so bad they touched, due to her size and the mother not getting the correct nutrition. When I bought them I immediately changed the feed to mare and foal and they began to grow correctly , today ( she's two ) you would never know that she was knockneed. Vet is the one who gave me amounts to feed to get them both up to where they should be. __________________ God Bless the Whole Herd

06-10-2008, 06:41 PM	#4
luttrellfarms Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 337	Most of the time they will be okay. You might want to work its legs and put a little pressure on the knees to help them along. __________________ Tony R. Luttrell www.angelfire.com/trek/landrfarms

06-11-2008, 09:30 PM	#8
Nicker Full Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 25	Advice on Foal with front leg problems We watched my Nicker from similar problems as baby - we never did radiograph at that time - our mistake - have them check his cannon bone alignment up now than again before yes before TWO months old, if they are not proper you can correct this before age two months successfully. WSU vet hospital said he did several even a race horse who is succesfully racer. We only checked for physitis - for some reason vet here did not catch the turned in cannon bones - its too late for us. Just a word to the wise in case. Diane

06-10-2008, 07:46 PM	#5
Nicker Full Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 25	Nicker had leg problems similiar - all along he had turned in cannon bone, this must be checked before 2 months old, and corrected before than. We were advised by vet it was physitis - the cannon bone issue got over looked, he is a yrling and must now be euthanized. I really advise you to not wait too long before checking with vet - ask if the cannon bone is straightened

06-11-2008, 07:52 AM	#6
MistyAcres Full Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 25 Images: 14	Do you have pistures? How old is he?

06-11-2008, 09:23 AM	#7
mgdhunter Full Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spanish Fork, UT Posts: 129 Images: 3	Foals will tend to straighten up within the first couple of months. If there is a problem, a vet would be a good resource. If you let it go too long, it may be too late to make a correction. Pictures would really help to see the extent of the problem. If you have a concern, call the vet.

06-27-2008, 07:40 PM	#9
blueeyedpony Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Shelby County Alabama Posts: 3 Images: 6	Lakota is fine now his legs straightend up nicely Thanks for all the great answers! Lakota is 3 weeks old now and his legs seem fine. He is growing bigger and stronger every day. Put some pictures on of him and his mom Foxy.

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