Septic joint in a foal - to flush?

RE: Septic joint in a foal - to flush?

Seadna — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 14:46:13 GMT

It's a very small breeding operation, yeah. Funnily enough, if you go near the head/neck the foal bares his teeth (too many injections) but going to his butt elicits no response. In any case, I was going to comment that Wren clearly deals with a higher-calibre foal than I

RE: Septic joint in a foal - to flush?

Hannah Wynne Richards — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 09:04:36 GMT

I may be guessing wildly inaccurately here, but a Connemara, and owners who won't/can't spend too much money, but want to do something (obviously concerned) suggest to me that this could be a private owner who thoughht it would be nice to get a foal from "their" pony, as opposed to a commercial stud. In this case the foal has probably been petted from the moment it's emerged.

Wynne

RE: Septic joint in a foal - to flush?

Wren — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 08:56:16 GMT

[quote user="Seadna "]

[quote user="Wren"]

If you can flexion test a foal then you don't need my help!!

[/quote]

Oh no! I flexed the hock for 60 seconds and had him trot off after his mother...did I do it wrong?!

[/quote]

Not at all! Most foals I deal would sooner kill me than let me hold a leg up, let alone adequately flex it. You must have skillz!

RE: Septic joint in a foal - to flush?

Hannah Wynne Richards — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 18:32:38 GMT

Wise decision not to go in at this point..............1st do no harm. I'd second Iain's sugesstion of continued antibiotics though.

Wynne

RE: Septic joint in a foal - to flush?

Seadna — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 15:52:51 GMT

[quote user="Wren"]

If you can flexion test a foal then you don't need my help!!

[/quote]

Oh no! I flexed the hock for 60 seconds and had him trot off after his mother...did I do it wrong?!

RE: Septic joint in a foal - to flush?

Iain Richards — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 14:30:10 GMT

I'd be inclined to keep the antibiotics going for another week. Be annoying if it flared up agin

RE: Septic joint in a foal - to flush?

Wren — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 12:21:34 GMT

If you can flexion test a foal then you don't need my help!!

RE: Septic joint in a foal - to flush?

David Shepherd — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 20:28:08 GMT

Ah if only you had given it some homeopathic remedy!

RE: Septic joint in a foal - to flush?

Seadna — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 18:53:05 GMT

You know that feeling when you are about to take on something new and technical, and you spend hours researching and revising, you ask everyone you can think of for advice, you come up with a plan, you meticulously set out every piece of equipment and medication you could possibly need, you are very nervous but very excited, if it goes well you will be a hero, if it doesn't you will beat yourself up for days.....you call the patient in to the treatment room and....boom....the symptoms have disappeared!

Thanks for the good wishes anyway folks. Foal today is 1/10 lame and only after flexion test of the hock. Has been off antibiotics for 2 days and temperature is normal. I just couldn't justify sedation and joint tap. The tiny palpable capsule swelling that was present the first day has gone too so I would really have been poking a needle around in a potentially healthy joint. Couldn't do it. Have put the little guy on low dose bute and omeprazole for 5 days and will reassess then. Boo.

RE: Septic joint in a foal - to flush?

Iain Richards — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 17:02:11 GMT

I have a sneaky suspicion the hock is compartmentalised - tibio-tarsal, then the intertarsal, then tarso-metatarsal. Oh, bad luck, Sisson and Grossman describe 4 sacs. I'd have it on cephalosporin and gentacin. If it's a joint ill as in lambs it is most likely to be physis rather than in the joint per se. Can't help with the best sites, I'd go for wherever you think most likely and wiggle teh needle in. Good Luck

RE: Septic joint in a foal - to flush?

Hannah Wynne Richards — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 15:26:32 GMT

I'm not an equine expert, so I'll just say good luck. I hope one of the equine people will give you some more specific advice soon.

Wynne