|
|
Discussion on Colt with bucked knees
|
| Author |
Message |
|
Posted on Friday, May 21, 1999 - 9:15 am:
Knees that are bucked forward generally are caused by one of two problems:
1) a shortened flexor, could be either the superficial, the deep, or both tendons. The compensation to buck the knees forward shortens the distance that the tendon travels helping the ankle and foot maintain a more normal angle.
2) bilateral rupture of the common digitial extensor tendon.
Occassionally the problems happen together. Rupture of the CDE is accompanied by a mild swelling on the front of the knee just to the outsice, and the ability to manually straigten the leg. If the foal is getting around well both conditions have a good prognosis. The main point is are you getting continued improvement. As long as the condition is improving conservative treatment is warranted. If the foal every gets to where ther is no improvement is a months time or at any time he is getting worse, more aggressive treatment shoudl be contemplated.
Usually the reason for contracture goes unknown though viral infection, sudan grass, genetics, and malposition are commonly implicated. The feed connection you mentioned is just conjecture.
We have more information in: Equine Diseases: Foal Diseases: Flexural Deformities
DrO
|
|
|
