Pedigree Query

What kind of a future would a foal whose knee joints won't bend have? M friend is adopting a 4-week-old The Cliff's Edge colt who would probably have been euthanized if she hadn't opened her barn to him. I know the colt has received cortisone injections and runs and plays as best he can. Will this little horse have any quality of life?

Yikes!

I wouldn't think it looks too good for him. I know that foals born with ankylosis of the joints (the joint is fused in the flexed position) are usually euthanized.

I didn't think it sounded too promising She's not some weirdo who thinks that he will ever make a riding horse or anything like that. I just wonder how long he can live like that. As he gets bigger and bigger, I would think it will just become harder and harder for him to get around. It may have been kinder to euthanize the poor little guy.

I had to euthanize a horse last year who's only other option would be to fuse his knee surgically. He would have no kind of life whatsoever - they can't step up on a trailer (or any other type of step up), have to be laid down just to trim their feet, and in this guy's case (only one knee) I was told it would only be a matter of time before the other leg gave out. No way to be a horse.

Apparently, he has had cortisone shots and can bend his knees a bit now. Vet says he expects the colt to gradually improve. Go figure!

Dynasplint.com go to the vet section. They've had some tremendous success and they will talk/write to you about evaluations.

Thanks. I will send that link to my friend. He'll just be a pasture ornament and a buddy for a couple of geldings, if he's able, but anything that would improve his quality of life ought to be welcome.

Just an update: the little fellow is at his new home and seems to be getting around pretty well. He's bonded with a mare they have, so he doesn't miss his mom too much.

This colt sounds like a perfect Dynasplint case, and I would know! Has your friend contacted anyone at Dynasplint? My contact information is in my signature line and I'd be more than happy to talk to her about how a Dynasplint can help her foal. The orginal human Dynasplints were designed more than 25 years ago with one goal in mind: to restore range of motion to restricted joints in a biomechanically correct and comfortable way. We have range restoring splints for horses of all shapes, sizes and ages and for almost every joint (shoulders, stifles and hips are a little tricky! ), in both flexion and extension directions. All of the splints allow normal use of the splinted joint and are worn for 4-12 hours per day (or night), depending on the condition being treated, the ambient temperature, the individual animal, etc. Most of the equine cases I treat, whether they be contractures (tendons and other tissues, including joint capsules), tendon and ligament laxities, clubbed feet, angular limb deformities (front and hind limbs, knees hocks and fetlocks, varus and valgus) or other conditions, correct within one month's time.
If your friend, or anyone else, would like more details about what I do, I love discussing horse legs and feet and Dynasplints! Just email or call!