OMG I cannot understand that sort of negative response from the nutrition chap. My vet and all three consulting specialists never once suggested my colt would have a compromised future. Quite the opposite in fact.
I was very clear that should I embark on this journey I needed the outcome to be bloody close to perfect and not 70, 80, or 90%. I can live with some small scars but I could only justify all the expense if the colt was going to be able to perform to his fullest potential and that his longevity of soundness would not be lessened in any way.
At one point my vet wondered out loud about surgery to release the tendon (imagine my horror! but apparantly the tendon heals with no trouble at all) but the two independant consulting surgeons said ‘no way’ he can stand and drink and that means he can be mended in a much more conservative way.
I have another example of how doing the hard yards now will pay off for you Gen.
A few years back a close friend’s old mare had a severely contracted foal. The contractures included the knees and fetlocks of both front limbs. At full stretch the limbs formed a half circle. Her front limbs were also windswept.
The foal was small and dysmature. She could not get up or stand without being lifted and held. She was bottle fed and had manual physio every 2 hours round the clock. She had main-lined oxytet that created terrible infections at the catheter site.
AT NO POINT was this considered a hopeless case.
The oxytet seemed to help the knees but not the fetlocks. Eventually she could stand with assistance and drink. The physio continued. She was wrapped and splinted.
By 30 days she could stand on tip toes unassisted. At 5 weeks she had a P-strip to address the medial/lateral deviation. By 4 months there was no hint that she had any issues at all.
This filly is now under saddle as a 4yo. She remained small (nothing to do with the contractures) but is totally sound and her limbs and hooves are perfect.
I will email Gen the photos to post here.
Gen - do not give up! By 2 and a half months I was very down about the whole thing. So much money. So much worry and so many unanswered questions. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, but faced with the same situation would I do it all again? Definately. Without question.
