Tetracycline use in a 15 day old foal

[Lapinwood_Pony]

Hi!

I’m currently waiting for a response from my vet so in the meantime I thought I’d see what others experiences have been.

I believe that tetracycline has the best results when administered within the first few days. My vet didn’t feel like there was anything that needed to be done when he came out for the foal check and IgG so we did not administered. However I am not seeing any improvement in the foals front legs, where as the hind legs have fully corrected themselves.

A little back story - maiden 14 yr old horse mare bred to a pony stallion went 396 days in foal. Had a healthy and easy birth with a healthy placenta. Foal was responsive and vibrant but weak behind, looked windswept. Within 5-7 days his hind legs were strong and upright but his front right in particular is crooked. He has no problem standing laying down running bucking etc but the leg itself makes me cringe when looking at it.

So my question is whether or not at 15 days would tetracycline be useful.

Also I didn’t have any plans to rebreed this mare but I bred this foal to be my children’s large pony prospect and I’m wondering if I should go ahead and rebreed her to my pony stallion in case this colts legs don’t correct. Is a crooked leg generally hereditary and it would probably happen again or was that probably more of a result of being in utero for 396 days?

Both sire and dam are very correct and I have had 6 other foals by this sire and never a single crooked leg.

Thoughts?!?!?

I’d like to post pictures but don’t know how to.

[TrueColours]

Is he contracted or is the leg/legs crooked?

I would use tetracycline if his tendons were contracted for sure, but if crooked, are they turning out from the ankle? Knee? Higher?

Sometimes waiting and seeing with crooked is the best plan of action - sometimes not. As the chest expands, in many cases the legs will straighten

You mentioned windswept in behind - is he windswept in front also?

let us know and then we can offer some comments and suggestions for you

Welcome to the COTH board!

[Lapinwood_Pony]

Heres a thread with a picture of a very similar front leg. In the one week old photo that’s what my boy looks like.
http://vichorse.com/forum/index.php?t=msg&goto=544597&S=15671886fd792482f1684198e5e39844

[Lapinwood_Pony]

Alright sorry.

Hind leg were “windswept” his fetlocks were close to touching the ground but didn’t completely touch. They are correct now, so perhaps et was correct the tetracycline wasn’t needed as they corrected on their own within the first week.

The front right is crooked.

I also noticed the right hind was a little lower than the left hind at birth making me think that maybe this foal was laying in a such a way on the right side that caused his right legs to be deformed.

[CrowneDragon]

[QUOTE=Lapinwood Pony;7599079]
Alright sorry.

Hind leg were “windswept” his fetlocks were close to touching the ground but didn’t completely touch. They are correct now, so perhaps et was correct the tetracycline wasn’t needed as they corrected on their own within the first week.

The front right is crooked.

I also noticed the right hind was a little lower than the left hind at birth making me think that maybe this foal was laying in a such a way on the right side that caused his right legs to be deformed.[/QUOTE]

Tetracycline is usually used to help with contracted tendons, so would be contraindicated for your foal’s presentation. Unless there is contracture leading to the crookedness it won’t help there. Most foals will gradually straighten out over time. Failing that, trimming/shoeing or surgery can be used down the road.

[Lapinwood_Pony]

I have the farrier coming out tomorrow.

But that makes total sense re the tetracycline. What about rejuvenated for the crooked leg?

[Lapinwood_Pony]

And thoughts on whether these deformities are hereditary?!?!

Had anyone bred the same mare who foaled a crooked legged baby to the same stallion and was able to produce a foal with correct legs?

[VirginiaBred]

If the leg itself is crooked Brooke, try contacting Morgen Flynn who used to work for Dynasplint. It sounds as if a splint would be the most beneficial.

Morgen is on Facebook and posts here as well.

They make splints to correct many deformities with excellent results.

[VirginiaBred]

I’m thinking since the foal went that long it had everything to do with the leg being crooked.

[Kyzteke]

I would agree with others: Tetra is generally used to relax tendons, so is great for contractures. NOT used for general “crookedness” unless it’s being caused by a contracture (like Crowne Dragon says).

Pics really are SO important in these cases.

I will tell you that I had a foal 5 yrs ago that had 3 different issues in front at play. Top leg vet in my area told me when she was 2-3wks old that he was “90% sure” she would not straighten without surgery (screws & wires).

Not a big fan of that, so instead just gave her DAM a double dose of OCD pellets, got the paint on toes extensions (they hold up better than glue-ons) and did controlled turn-out for a month then switched to 12 hrs per day for a month, then switched to 24 hr turn-out (vet had recommend total stall confinement).

At 4 months she was 90% straight…
https://www.flickr.com/photos/99704127@N03/11772406733/in/set-72157634896086804

Her she is at age 3:https://www.flickr.com/photos/99704127@N03/11772405173/in/set-72157634896086804/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/99704127@N03/11772581353/in/set-72157634896086804/

You would be amazed what “tincture of Time” will do for a foal. And no, at this point it’s really doubtful this is hereditary…unless her sire/dam have obviously crooked legs. But foals can come out with all sorts of wonky looking legs that correct with just some time and afew minor interventions.

Rejuvenate certainly can’t hurt and alot of posters on COTH swear by it.

[Zuri]

I am not well versed in newborns. I was just wondering why you use tetracycline which is an antibiotic for tendons? I love reading here so I can learn. Thanks for answering my question.

[Laurierace]

If you read the inserts that you get from the pharmacy with tetracycline it warns of spontaneous tendon rupture or something to that effect. With newborns you can use that possible side effect to your advantage by using controlled dosages to relax the tendon contractures.

[khall]

If the foal’s legs are crooked have farrier use glue on shoes, I have seen them work wonders on young foals. When working for a vet, we would see this issue occasionally. Glue ons for the most part totally corrected their issue.

[Lapinwood_Pony]

Randee I don’t have a Facebook account, closed it for the summer while the kids are out of school (only to be quickly replaced with a COTH account, lol, but whatever.). Do you have a direct contact for her? I’d really like to contact her.

I’m trying to figure out how to share the photos because I understand it’s impossible to give an honest opinion without seeing them. Why why why coth don’t you have an upload option!!!

[Kyzteke]

[QUOTE=Lapinwood Pony;7599257]
Randee I don’t have a Facebook account, closed it for the summer while the kids are out of school (only to be quickly replaced with a COTH account, lol, but whatever.). Do you have a direct contact for her? I’d really like to contact her.

I’m trying to figure out how to share the photos because I understand it’s impossible to give an honest opinion without seeing them. Why why why coth don’t you have an upload option!!![/QUOTE]

There is one, but you pay $20 a year for it and then you just get thumbnails.

Don’t you have a photo sharing site? Something like Flickr or Snap Fish or another one? They are free to open.

Just post the photo(s) on one of those sites then post the link to that photo on COTH.

When you take your photos, do it from a kneeling postion and try to have the foal standing square on a level surface. Do one from front, & both sides.

And when using painted on vs glue on toe/hoof extensions, I definitely prefer the paint on…you can shape them, rasp them, etc. and they will NOT come off.

[alto]

Just post them on another site such as Photobucket or imgur etc & provide links … a premium membership here lets you direct load photos but they are s.m.a.l.l (or maybe they just don’t load properly for me???)

[VirginiaBred]

I’ve asked her to come post here for you.

[VirginiaBred]

Send me the photos and I’ll post them for you.

[FalseImpression]

pm Jackie Blue here, it is Morgen’s user name on Coth. Good luck!

[Lapinwood_Pony]

Let’s see if this works!

Right front from side/behind
http://imgur.com/bFRDl0h