Educate me about Carpus Varus? (Bowed Knees) in a 2 week old filly

[clivers]

My little filly (TBxHanoverian) was born looking very straight and correct (in retrospect maybe too much that way) and at about 6 days old started to contract in the tendons - vet feels likely related to very rich milk (mom is a super easy keeper, quite fat at the moment, and has a huge milk supply).

We cut mom’s feed way back and took them off the big rich field and put them in small pen turnout for 2x2 hours a day (stall the rest of the time). Vet refused to come out for Oxytet as it was a long weekend here.

From day 7 the tendons started to look better but her left knee is now bowing out noticeably! ie Carpus Varus

Vet is saying she is too busy to xray her this week and it’ll have to wait for Monday. In the mean time she is being stall rested and getting a half gram of bute daily.

I’m upset and scared about what this means for future soundness but I can’t seem to find much written about it other than it’s way worse than a valgus knee.

Can anyone educate me on the subject?

Here are pics/video of the progression: It’s the left front i’m worried about

First time standing: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152804259200273&set=a.10152138965710273.913112.681770272&type=3&theater

Day 2: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152807460585273&set=a.10152138965710273.913112.681770272&type=3&theater

Day 9: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152827330045273&set=a.10152138965710273.913112.681770272&type=3&theater

and video from day 13 (yesterday): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM8-m9fx16E

[raffey1]

I am going to suggest immediately putting this foal on a treatment of something like Rejuvenaide. I had incredible results with this on my carpal valgus foal (18 degrees off!) as a daily oral syringe. My other foal was mildy varus so I put him on it as well. Both of them had perfectly straight legs by four months of age. Best of luck!

[Laurierace]

Agree completely. Rejuvenaide or Foal Aide is the way I would proceed. A new vet is in order as well in my opinion. If they aren’t dependable on a weekend they are useless as horses don’t plan their emergencies during a weekday.

[peskee]

I also agree with the Rejuvenaide…I would double the dose. It is given at 5cc per 100lb. You could also contact Don Kapper at Progressive Nutrition he can advise you on dosage… dkapper@prognutrition.com

[clivers]

Thanks very much!

I am in Canada but did call Lisa at Progressive Nutrition and have ordered 2 bottles of rejuvenaide. It won’t be here for another week, though, and that’s only if it makes it through customs (sometimes they send it back :()

I agree about needing a more reliable vet.

[FalseImpression]

best of luck. I agree with finding another vet and at loast one in a clinic where they can cover for each other. wow, true colours. I hope the meds come through customs for you.

[Beentheredonethat]

You need a vet who knows this. Rejuvinade is vitamins and minerals. It’s really important to get someone who is used to dealing with this and knows what to do. You only have a limited time before the bones in the lower leg start closing.

[ticofuzzy]

Your mare may very well need a diet, but short of starving her, you are not going to make much difference in the volume or richness of her milk. She will just pull the reserves from her own body and put them in the milk until she no longer has them to give. If you get to that point, the foal will no longer be getting the proper nutrition from the milk and that in itself is a problem. Just concentrate on your mare being at a healthy weight. Make sure the foal is not eating her grain.

Rejuvenaide is your friend. Hopefully it will get across the border.

Limited turnout can help especially if the tendons are getting tight and causing the foal to be sore after exercise. Then they start to compromise and stand more crooked to get some relief from the strain on the tendon.

An anti-inflammatory/pain reliever is very helpful but I would not give it without Gastro-gard/Ulcer-gard. Good luck!

[Home_Again_Farm]

From the pictures and video, I wonder if there is more going on than just the knee? If there is something going on lower in the leg as well, you really need to jump on it now, as the lower joints close very early. I do believe in the use of rejuvenaide or Buckeye foal aide, but I’d also want an immediate consultation with the very best leg man in your area. IMO the reaction of the vet you have been using is inadequate and inexcusable. The foal may need surgery and more conservative treatments may not help at all.

[tuckawayfarm]

[QUOTE=Home Again Farm;6995895]
From the pictures and video, I wonder if there is more going on than just the knee? If there is something going on lower in the leg as well, you really need to jump on it now, as the lower joints close very early. I do believe in the use of rejuvenaide or Buckeye foal aide, but I’d also want an immediate consultation with the very best leg man in your area. IMO the reaction of the vet you have been using is inadequate and inexcusable. The foal may need surgery and more conservative treatments may not help at all.[/QUOTE]

Ditto this ^^

Looks like this might be coming from the fetlock and really must be addressed now for successful correction. Don’t panic, I’ve seen much worse correct 100%, but if you wait any longer, you will be behind your best opportunity.

You definitely need a more competent vet. Is there a University or large clinic available to you? Surgery might be your best bet, but I’ve seen great results with Dalric shoes if used very early and consistently. www.nanric.com
I also use Rejuvenaide on all my foals, but in this type of situation, always in combination with the shoes.

Best of luck to you and your adorable foal!!

[Ticker]

I agree a new vet is needed ASAP! Also, I would not be doing turnout, I would be hand grazing the mare and letting the foal bounce around mom. I would not let the mare run her foal until you have more answers and a treatment plan that includes turnout. Good luck to you- your baby is adorable!

[tuckawayfarm]

Forgot to ask, is your foal lame?

I would be very cautious giving bute to a baby. Ulcers would be a huge concern for me.

[clivers]

Thanks so much guys,

I am quite disappointed in our vet, though I am trying to be understanding as I know she is super busy; large equine clinic near us closed about a year ago and she has had to absorb a lot of the vet-less clients.

Filly is looking a little better the last two days and I managed to find some old quadrisol so didn’t have to use bute on her in the end.

I will update on Monday when vet finally visits and xrays.

Happy weekend everyone!!

[clivers]

Update:

Filly has been looking much straighter since turnout has been restricted and mom’s feed cut. She also had 5 days of vedaprophen (easier on their stomachs than bute).

Now it looks like the varus curve is primarily from below the fetlock to the foot whereas the knee and fetlock themselves are much straighter. The knee does look worse when she gets tired and vet was there to see both fresh and tired filly today.

We are going to continue with the current regime, but will be very carefully watching how she wears her foot and vet feels with careful balancing of the foot we will not need surgery.

Here is a video from yesterday:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXP20cPeeFw

[Home_Again_Farm]

With knees you have a long time to fix things. With fetlocks, your time is very short. You may find this useful.

http://www.nanric.com/limb_deformities_in_the_foal.asp

http://www.farriery.eu/articles/008-2008.htm

[tuckawayfarm]

[QUOTE=clivers;7001646]
Update:

Filly has been looking much straighter since turnout has been restricted and mom’s feed cut. She also had 5 days of vedaprophen (easier on their stomachs than bute).

Now it looks like the varus curve is primarily from below the fetlock to the foot whereas the knee and fetlock themselves are much straighter. The knee does look worse when she gets tired and vet was there to see both fresh and tired filly today.

We are going to continue with the current regime, but will be very carefully watching how she wears her foot and vet feels with careful balancing of the foot we will not need surgery.

Here is a video from yesterday:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXP20cPeeFw[/QUOTE]

I hope you found time to read the links HAF posted.

If your vet is suggesting a corrective shoe or extension to balance the foot, I think you have an excellent chance of avoiding surgery, but you really need to do it now. This is not normally “self correcting” like carpus valgus often is.

Good luck!

[Beentheredonethat]

I third getting on the corrective foot stuff right now. You don’t have much time. My filly had some huge issues with being windswept and low behind. A were very aggressive about putting foot extensions on and making sure she was straight. At three she is 100% straight. You have only until about 4 months until those lowest bones close permanently, and the you can’t fix them.