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  Discussion on 8 month old colt with epiphysitis, HELP!!!!
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Posted on Sunday, Dec 3, 2000 - 12:32 am:

Hello,
I'm writing regarding my 8 month old colt. He developed unusual swellings in his fetlock joints about 3 months ago. He has grown considerably fast reaching the height of 13 hands when I measured him last week. By the way, he is a registered Paint colt. His sire is approx 15 to 15.1 hands and his dam is 15.3 hands. He weighs approx 500 pounds. He also has a large grass belly, I'm not sure if that means anything but I thought I'd let you know. He get's free choice alfalfa hay (1st) cutting so it's not real leafy. With the grain situation we've tried several things. First he was on regular oats until 3 months ago when we first saw the epiphsitis starting. That's when we switched to a product called Select II. Referred to us by fellow breeders. That worked for a couple of days but, we can't get him to eat it anymore. We tried several different ways, but with no success.
We called out vet and he said to wrap his legs. When we wrap them the swelling goes down. Why is this. We recently bought a product called Equine Junior, but haven't seen any results yet? I hope I have been thorough with you and I apologize for this being so long. But, I am desperate for some answers! Please help!!! Thank You so much in advance! ~BRPAINTS

Posted on Sunday, Dec 3, 2000 - 8:24 am:

Hi there.
In my opinion, I think free choice alfalfa is way too rich for your foal. I would try a grass hay.
I have been using Equine Junior and love the results so far. My foals are going to mature about 16.3 hands so I am worried about them growing too fast also.
Concerning the big belly; has your foal been on a good worming schedule? If so it could be an "alfalfa belly".
At what age was he weaned?
Good luck and DrO gets back Dec 4th.
Barbara

Posted on Sunday, Dec 3, 2000 - 12:51 pm:

Hi!
Thanks for the speedy reply! Yes my colt is on a regular deworming schedule, in fact he just got wormed with a zimecterin wormer about two weeks ago. I figured that it was a grass belly or alfalfa belly in this case but, wanted to be sure since this is my first time dealing with epiphysitis. Anyways, would you recommend giving him a couple flakes of alfalfa and then letting him have free choice grass hay? Or cutting him back on all of it with a specific amount, rather than free feed? Oh, do you know anything about wrapping a horses legs with epiphysitis? I think I mentioned something about it in my first post. Anyways, thank you for all your help and have a happy holiday season!!!!! ~BRPAINTS

Posted on Sunday, Dec 3, 2000 - 12:57 pm:

Oh sorry I forgot to tell you, he was weaned at the age of 5 months. He's back in the same field with his dam now, she has dried up and won't allow him to nurse though. Sorry I forgot to mention it in the second post!! *lol* ~BRPAINTS

Posted on Monday, Dec 4, 2000 - 9:55 am:

Hello Patricia,
It is not clear what exactly is swollen from your post: the physis, the joint capsule, the subcutaneious tissue, or the flexor sheath. All of these are associated with the fetlock joint. Where radiographs taken and if so what were the lesions present and the diagnosis (I am more interested in the actual lesions present).

The article associated with this forum presents a diagnostic routine and possible treatments. Be sure to carefully review the article and the links it provides.
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 5, 2000 - 2:39 am:

Hi again. I'm not sure what it is that's swollen. I haven't had radiographs taken, so I can't really say. Should I have this done? I have never even heard of this illness until recently, so try to bear with me. *L* Anyways, I will read the arcticle again and see if I can figure out what's swollen. But, from just looking at it, all I can say is that the fetlock joint itself is swollen. Sorry. I will get these radiographs if you think it will be useful. Have you heard anything about wrapping their legs? My vet said to try it, it worked. But, I don't want to have to keep his legs wrapped for the rest of his life. Plus something inside me is saying that it is not healthy for his legs to be wrapped all the time. That's why I chose to stop until I got some real proof that it's ok!!! Ok well, I will call my vet tomorrow and see if he can do those radiographs on "Ice". Thanks for you help. ~BRPAINTS

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 5, 2000 - 6:38 am:

If the exact location/cause of the swelling is in doubt then yes I think the radiographs are helpful for diagnosis, treatment, and prognosing. Without knowing the cause of the swelling I really cannot comment on whether the wrapping is rational. Simple edema, without heat, of minor or even unknown cause might best be treated this way. But if the joint capsule is swollen, I would want to know more.
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Nov 24, 2001 - 8:10 pm:

Hi There,
I have a papered paint colt 7 months old with a diagnosis of physitis also. It was recommended to me to decrease the protein percentage in his grain, add a mineral supplement called Ca Pid to his feed, and 50/50 balance of grass hay and alfalfa. This foal came from a pmu farm in Olds Alberta. He was fed for 5 weeks a grain mixture at 16%. Foal arrived with a Rhodococcal Pneumonia with lung abcesses and lost a great deal of weight during the antibiotic phase. His appetite returned as the dreadful drugs were finished. I offer my support to you as I worry that my foal will not develop appropriately, and I am sure it has crossed your mind too.
Mary
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