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  Discussion on Hypothyroid foal -10 days old
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 11, 2000 - 1:03 am:

DrO

As you know, I have conversed with you several times under the heading , "prolonged gestation "
I feel that this is now the appropriate site for my seemingly neverending questions. I have as you know, been keeping a vigilant watch over my 10 day old Appaloosa foal. He has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, and appears to be holding his own, I think...

I have so many questions and concerns, Upon reading the info you provided , I fear his future isso uncertain. He is growing, drinking from a bottle very well. He consumed approx 10 litres in the past 24 hours. He received the IV oxytetracycline x2days and the results have been good. I continue to splint his leg during the night, but leave only his support wrap during the day, I allow him 1-2 hours without the support wrap. He rarely buckles , but when he does he immediately corrects himself and stands properly.
The swelling in his hocks is subsiding , his bottom jaw is not as pronouned as it was when he was first born. He had a large umblical hernia which with daily massage has almost closed over. His umbilicus continues to cause me and the vet concern as it is large in diameter and I have had to keep it very clean as it was very mucky. I am using a hibitane spray and it seems to be helping.
My foal required several enemas as well , I was seeing no evidence of bowel movements and the stool was quite hard when he did have a BM. This has settled in the last day or two. He is getting a foal milk replacement and is tolerating that well. Goats milk is hard to find right now.
Should I be offering him water in between feeds. I feed him hourly to every 1 1/2 hours during the night. He takes anywhere from 450-700 mls per feed.
I am concerned about his muskuloskeletal development. He has been confined to a small stall since birth , to keep him as quiet as possible, sometimes he seems so agitated with this. Tonight he was pawing at the straw and acting quite irritable,. Immediately I panicked and thought, colic. I am exhausted, and worried for this foal, we are so upset over the loss of his mother. Will I contiue to have to worry about his skeletal development or will he be okay if he causes no damage in the next three weeks..
Xrays of his rear hock joint showed very minimal
decreased ossification. I worry about his unsplinted front leg, tonight he looked as if he was standing incorrectly on it as well, could he have just been tired, could having the other leg splinted put undue stress on this leg. Do I have any reason to fear what appeared to be a normal front leg could still deteriorate. Wow , I guess I do have alot of questions. My vet seems to think everything will be okay if we can get him safely through this critcal time. At 6 days of age his bloodwork showed a high normal WBC, A decreased hbg and hct, ( his cord cut quickly the mare was in a lot of pain and we had to move him so she wouldn't kick him) his serum protien levels were still decreased at 430 (4.3) this is after receiving 7 cup colostrum (my mare was fully vacinated) and a plasma infusion at 36hours of age. Should he have a 2nd plasma infusion.
How does this picture present to you. I know this is not a simple case , but any advice you could give would be appreciated.
By the way his IV came out day 6 and I continue to give him oral Sulfamethoazole and Trimethoprim
twice daily.

Thank you again for your time.

Terry moe
Horsefly, B.C.

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 12, 2000 - 5:17 am:

Hello Terry,
It sounds like he is doing much better than average for a hypothyroid foal. Did you get that information on nitrates statistical relation to this problem? I was amazed at this information as I have not seen it elsewhere. It sounds like your vet is doing an admirable job and he really can answer your questions on case management and prognosis better than I. If sepsis is still a question I would like to see a aminoglycoside (gentamycin) added to the antibiotic regimen. TMP-SMZ is just a little weak on G negatives and Strep. See Septicemia in Foals for details.
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Jul 15, 2000 - 12:19 am:

DrO

Thank you so much for your advice. Sometimes getting another persepective on things is comforting.

My little miracle is doing wonderful! At 12 days old he has gone from 60kgs to 77kgs. No problem with the apetite. I have had incredible results with the oxytetracycline therapy, a beautiful straight leg. I continue to support wrap and confine him to stall rest but I am extremely hopeful for a full recovery.

My vet saw him again yesterday and she was thrilled. His hock joints are no longer swollen, his front contracted tendon appears to be resolving and his lower jaw does appears to be almost completely corrected.

The one concern still remaining is the swollen thyroid glands. The R side is slightly smaller than a golf ball and the L about 1/3 smaller than that. I question my vet about a trial of Levothyroxine to shrink the glands, she said she hoped they would resolve on their own, but that she would call someone at the university of Sask, regarding this, I haven't heard back. What is your opinion on this.

By the way, I did read about the nitrate levels in feed and since then have been in touch with my hay supplier. He states his analysis from last year was 13.1% protien and 0.01 nitrate levels,
He was very concerned when I spoke with him about my foals hypothyroidism, he stated that nitrate level below 0.5 were okay?? He offered to core test my load of hay this year as I usually go through about 35-40 ton per winter, and my vet said she would send a copy of the analysis to the unv of Sask to get their opinion on whether or not I should feed my broodmares the hay. I fed my mare this suppliers feed exclusively from Nov -till she foaled . No grain supplements were supplied.
I was very upset to think that this was due to diet , all my horses wintered so well this year I had no idea I was doing any harm.

Thank you again,

Terry Moe
Emerald Appaloosa's
Horsefly, B.C.

Posted on Saturday, Jul 22, 2000 - 2:16 pm:

Dr O

Missed the message, "Gone Fishing"

Hope you caught "the big one!" Since my last posting remarkable improvement in the enlarged thyroid glands on my foal with a simple, additon of iodized salt to his formula. He's started licking a salt block , plus the vet advised a small amt of table salt to his formula and within 3 day considerable shrinkage in the glands and now within a week , I have a hard time deciding if there is any swelling left at all.
The leg is coming well , except I continue to have to support wrap both front legs at night. When I remove the wraps in the morning the legs look great, but by days end, with the minimal activity he is allowed the legs look tired and even a little crooked. I'm told with time, these will strengthen to where I won't need to wrap
them. Looking forward to that day, otherwise I guess he his making an amazing recovery.

Thank you for your time,

Terry Moe
Emerald Appaloosa's
Horsefly, B.C. Can

Ps: Dr O

I have just read all of the above discussions, as you will remember we have talked about this foal of mine, born July 1, 2000 , orphaned and then diagnosed with hypothyroidism dysmaturity syDrOme. The goiters have resolved he is growing, but after reading above I question, is he growing too fast? My foal also had IV oxytetracycline therapy, and I am finding the same problem as above. The foals front legs look great but after too much exercise (this even being confined to a small 10x10 outside paddock) his legs look tired, shaky and weak at the knees. When I observe this I immediately confine his to a smaller space and support wrap his legs. These wraps stay on only about 12-16 hours and when removed the legs look great. I'm up to about 48 hours with no support wraps or splinting if I confine him and decrease his exercise. He sounds so familiar to the above posting by Sharon. This foal is 28 day old. Should I be cutting back his caloric intake, he gained 17 kgs in the first 12 days and although he hasn't been weighed since , he is very obviously growing. I am feeding him foal milk replacement and he takes in approx 9 -10 litres a day with another 2-4 litres of H2O. I am afraid to let him out in a larger paddock due to the incomplete ossification of his hock joints (these appear resolved , no swelling, tenderness etc) . Part of me thinks he needs more exercise but I'm afraid I'll undo all that I have accomplished to date.

Ps , Do you think sharon's foals could be afflicted with the same problem as my foal? (ie: hypothyroidism. Maybe the stud is not to blame)

Thanks

Terry Moe
Emerald Appaloosas
Horsefly, B.C.
Canada

Posted on Saturday, Jul 22, 2000 - 2:42 pm:

Terry Moe Maybe you should do a nitrate check on your water! I have been there. pw,

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 1, 2000 - 12:49 pm:

Terry, without examining the foal I cannot make the judgements you ask for your vet needs to decide if he is getting weak from over exertion or flexor contracture or perhaps someother problem. Once this determination is made the treatment can be prescribed.
DrO

Posted on Friday, Aug 4, 2000 - 11:53 pm:

DrO

Took my colt to the vet yesterday, overall she was thrilled with his progress. We both agreed his flexural contracture of the knees was due to a rapid weight gain. He weighs, 230 pound at 32 days of age , a gain of 96 pounds since birth, he is drinking his milk out of a bucket so I will be decreasing his total caloric intake and continue to splint his legs every other night. His hock joints are great and his legs straight. I thank you for your help, advice and patience with my questions. I am certainly very optimistic for a complete recovery.

Terry Moe
Emerald Appaloosas
Horsefly, B.C.

Posted on Saturday, Aug 5, 2000 - 9:19 am:

That is super Terry!
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Sep 16, 2000 - 12:19 am:

Dr O

Thought I would give you an update on my little miracle.

Chip is now 2 1/2 months old, he weighs in excess of 350 lbs, he runs , bucks , plays and is a few weeks away from officially being a weanling , not an orphan. It has been a long difficult road but I am so thankful I didn't give up. As a hypothyroid foal with skeletal issues his initial prognosis was guarded at best, however I am thrilled to say that he has suffered NO permanent damage to his skeletal system and he looks perfect. I kept a diligent record of his days since he was born with every intervention and response to treatment. When I look back I truly realize just how far he has come. Although I continue to mourn the loss of his mother ,I am comforted by the knowledge that I kept my promise to her that I would take care of her foal. He is thriving , and although I would never wish to repeat this ordeal again I can truly state that the end result to date has been worth every bit of worry and work.

Thank you again for your help and information you provided for myself and Chip.

Sincerely,

Terry Moe
Emerald Appaloosas
Horsefly, B.C.
Canada
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