Has anyone dealt with this before? I have a lovely leggy yearling (June baby). He will likely finish above 16.3. He got very very sick on us earlier this year. We almost lost him. He seems to have turned a corner and is doing well. Only issue is he had a sudden growth spurt and looks like he now has mild contracted tendons. He basically looks VERY up right and sometimes knucking over at the ankles. We have limited his turn out and my farrier is working on him every week. I also started him on Rejuvenade (sp?). He is getting a balancer and I’ve had conversations with the vet and nutritionist. He was starting to look better…but tonight looks worse again. I’m sure he just had another growth spurt. I guess what I’m just looking for are success stories! I know this will just take time…but it is hard to wait when you have vested soooooo much in these little guys!
I personally do not believe confinement is the answer for “mildly” contracted tendons. They aren’t going to stretch out standing around. Between 9 mos - 18 mos youngsters often go through several growth spurts.
The trick is to supply adequate nutrition without over feeding so you can slow the growth down abit.
Since he was sick, were you feeding alot of concentrates prior to this? What has he been getting fed for, say, the last 4 mos?
[QUOTE=Kyzteke;7116733]
I personally do not believe confinement is the answer for “mildly” contracted tendons. They aren’t going to stretch out standing around. Between 9 mos - 18 mos youngsters often go through several growth spurts.
The trick is to supply adequate nutrition without over feeding so you can slow the growth down abit.
Since he was sick, were you feeding alot of concentrates prior to this? What has he been getting fed for, say, the last 4 mos?[/QUOTE]
He’s out all night. Just in during the day. He was confined while he was sick for about 6 weeks in a stall and about 6 weeks just a few hours turn out. so I’ve slowly built up his turn out to all night. He comes in and sleeps a lot so I feel that is what he probably needs. He was quite painful when sick (long story but he got an infection then inflammation in all his joints…we think it is immune mitigated polyarthritis–he’s been a real head scratcher). Once we got it under control…now this.
He has been on the balancer all along. Not a high amount of concentrates but what the nutritionist and vet think he needs. They actually made me up the balancer so he gets about 2.5 lbs a day total and a bit of fat. Yeah…we are trying to walk that fine line of giving him enough to have adequate nutrition without over feeding him. I’m thinking of cutting him a little more but the nutritionists have me second guessing myself. He is ribby but looks good…not show on the line good but healthy gangly growing good. I really think he stopped growing while he was really sick and just now catching up…even though we haven’t upped his food or anything. The biggest change was he used to get a mix of alfalfa and grass hay (per nutritionist) but once I saw him getting upright…I pulled him off the alfalfa. He just gets good timmothy hay.
Tendons don’t stretch, not in this context. “contracted tendons” are an issue with either muscles that are contracting for whatever reason (most common in foals whose muscles simply get over tired) or because a sudden growth spurt has put bone longer than the tendon could keep up with.
I DO think that restricting turnout is the better idea. All that tension in the tendon starts to pull on the muscles, and if those muscles get over-tired, they are going to contract and/or spasm and worsen the situation.
I would be doing whatever it takes to keep his weight very, very lean, sort of controlling his growth a little by restricting calories appropriately, but making sure you are not at all restricting nutrition, which you’re taking care of with the Rejuvenaide and the (presumably) ration balancer. Have you talked to Don at Progressive? Are you using the regular R or the R+? He might have strong thoughts on one or the other.
also, have you thought about wrapping w/standing wraps while he is in??
my 2013 foal had an infection that tried to settle in his joints, which we quickly attended to, but he did seem to get a bit more contracted during the time before we identified the infection… vets had me wrap him three nights on, three nights off, from just below the hock, to all the way under his fetlocks. It really did help him loosen up.
[QUOTE=JB;7116830]
I would be doing whatever it takes to keep his weight very, very lean, sort of controlling his growth a little by restricting calories appropriately, but making sure you are not at all restricting nutrition, which you’re taking care of with the Rejuvenaide and the (presumably) ration balancer. Have you talked to Don at Progressive? Are you using the regular R or the R+? He might have strong thoughts on one or the other.[/QUOTE]
Yes that is what we are doing. He is on the Progressive ration balancer…and I think it is Rejuvenaide plus…I need to double check that. He is on 1/2 a tube (15cc) a day and one scoop of the pellets…I did that mix as I feel I’m guessing a bit at his weight and wanted to make sure I’m covered. The guys at the feed store are going to bring a scale out so I can weigh him and make sure he is getting the right dose of the Rejuvenaide. But I’m guessing he is between 700-800lbs.
Just out of curiosity - any vaccines or other events prior to his episode?
I’ve heard of tetracycline use in the very young - worth researching.
One other thing is make sure you are addressing the Vit E & Se issue - long story short my filly had a major idiopathic immune reaction & she was low when tested for this (a secondary/not major concern but we tested for everything), had to invest in the liquid & dose her daily. Mildly contracted tendons were evident just prior to the hospital trip, however, they were alarmingly lax after 4 weeks of stall rest, IV oxytet, and a gamut of other drugs -
If you’re using a tube, then you have the regular R. The Plus comes in pelleted and liquid form (and the liquid smells awesome!). As a horse yearling, you’re probably in the right range for his weight. But, it might be beneficial to feed a partial serving of the Balancer and feed the Plus, so that’s why I’d suggest trying to get hold of Don. He’s so wonderful to talk to about this stuff 
[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;7117085]
I think it is Rejuvenaide plus…I need to double check that. He is on 1/2 a tube (15cc) a day [/QUOTE]
Others are more familiar with the product than I, and I’m feeding liquid, but my directions say 5 cc per 100lbs. Is the paste more concentrated?
[QUOTE=goodmorning;7117177]
I’ve heard of tetracycline use in the very young - worth researching.[/QUOTE]
Nope, she is WAY beyond the useful period of time for oxytet. Usually they put the cut off date at 10 days. But you could always give it a try…
I was told by a vet that a firm surface was better as the weight helped as he stood around. Deep bedding lets the foot rest where it wants to.
Give him some Rejuvenaide. Great product and it certainly can’t help. It works magic with growth spurts.
http://www.prognutrition.com/rejuvenaidepaste.html
[QUOTE=Kyzteke;7117595]
Others are more familiar with the product than I, and I’m feeding liquid, but my directions say 5 cc per 100lbs. Is the paste more concentrated?[/QUOTE]
The liquid is the R Plus. Paste is the regular R. R Plus is a good bit more concentrated.
[QUOTE=VirginiaBred;7117791]
Give him some Rejuvenaide. Great product and it certainly can’t help. It works magic with growth spurts.
http://www.prognutrition.com/rejuvenaidepaste.html[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=JB;7117445]
If you’re using a tube, then you have the regular R. The Plus comes in pelleted and liquid form (and the liquid smells awesome!). As a horse yearling, you’re probably in the right range for his weight. But, it might be beneficial to feed a partial serving of the Balancer and feed the Plus, so that’s why I’d suggest trying to get hold of Don. He’s so wonderful to talk to about this stuff :)[/QUOTE]
The box of the tubes says plus…I ordered it directly from them. I have the pellets as well as I put his stable mate on them–she is also very tall.
Yes, we did check his vit E & Sel. All fine. He got a gash that even though the vet came and treated him right away…and on antibiotics…turned into a anarobic (sp?) infection. Caught right away and treated at New Bolton. Recovered from that…and his joints got very painful…cultures all clean. This begain the LONG process of trying to figure out what was wrong with him…including xrays, bone scan…and ultrasounding just about every square inch of him. We were finally able to get his blood work back to normal, and joints less painful (took long round of strong antibiotics followed by steroids).
We seem to have him in a good place. Vet just had me up the paste a bit and we are going to explore shoeing him. Expensive little bugger isn’t he!!!
He’s not deeply bedded on straw with rubber mats
Paste is 2cc per 100 lbs. We are going to up him to 18cc.
Wow, that’s odd. Maybe it’s a new formulation? Their site still says the Plus is pelleted and liquid, the regular is paste, and when I used it, that’s how it was. Good to know
They have used dynasplints in horses up to 2 with much success. They have used them, on adults, but with only minimal results. It’s worth a call to the rep in the area. A short amount of time in a splint can help things roll in the right direction. Feel free to call me, I think you have my number. If not pm me and I will send it to to!
Amy
[QUOTE=Aaspen;7118521]
They have used dynasplints in horses up to 2 with much success. They have used them, on adults, but with only minimal results. It’s worth a call to the rep in the area. A short amount of time in a splint can help things roll in the right direction. Feel free to call me, I think you have my number. If not pm me and I will send it to to!
Amy[/QUOTE]
Thanks Amy…I’ll talk to my vet about it. We may also start using a therapeutic ultrasound on him but I’m not sure he will hold still long enough…maybe if we can do it while he is napping 
I have nothing to add, born free, but I am jingling like mad. :yes:
