A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO LAMENESS IN THE
FOAL
Andrew Gray, BVSc
Lameness in the foal is a commonly presenting complaint and treating it can be a
daunting task for veterinarians not accustomed to dealing with foals. As with adult
horses, a systematic approach, including a complete history, signalment and
thorough clinical examination, is the starting point. Contrary to what most clients will
tell you is the aetiology for lameness, most cases of lameness are not the result of
the mare standing on the foal.
However, there are a few key differences between lameness in a foal and lameness
in an adult horse:
The history must take into consideration the medical history and the immunoglobulin
transfer status of the foal. An infectious aetiology is common, so it is safe to assume
that all lameness in foals is septic in origin until proven otherwise. Factors like
concentration of horses, hygiene, housing and herd health status all contribute to
potential infection risk.
Abnormalities in previous haematology profiles, periods of illness, abnormal
parturition, particularly abnormal placentas (“red bag”, placentitis) and patent or
infected urachus, are all indicators that the lameness may be septic in origin.
The clinical examination is also different from that of the adult horse, as foals are
typically unhandled and unpredictable.
Foals can be hypersensitive, so comparing responses between limbs helps, and
patient, careful palpation of the entire foal starting from the hoof and moving
proximally, with particular attention to every joint and physis, noting any swelling,
heat or pain on flexion or pressure, is especially important for non-obvious sources of
lameness.
Dynamic evaluation of the gait is best performed with the foal walking and trotting
unrestrained next to the mare in hand on a firm, level surface. Foals typically show
more exaggerated gait deficits than adults in response to pain, so isolating the lame
limb is not always as challenging.
Once the lame limb or limbs and possibly the anatomical location responsible for the
lameness have been identified, the primary objective is to determine if it is of an
infectious or non-infectious aetiology.
The use of basic haematology profiles and inflammatory indicators (Serum amyloid A
and Fibrinogen) has become routine practice in lame foals, as a systemic white cell
count and inflammatory proteins will often be elevated due to septic foci. These are
also used as a yardstick to measure the efficacy of treatment of lame foals resulting
from septic foci.
Proceedings
of
the
South
African
Equine
Veterinary
Association
Congress
2016
230