Contracted Superficial Flexor Tendons? Or Weird Growth?

[disneyhorse]

Your vet costs may vary greatly due to location.

Our vets out here tend to be more expensive than elsewhere... But one of the colts in my barn had a similar surgery done in one leg and it was about $800. He had special shoes to encourage the proper hoof and leg angles for 6-8 months afterwards. He looks great now.

I'd assume the earlier you can correct it, the better the prognosis.

Although she looks and moves sound now, improper leg and hoof angulation can have serious consequences down the road which is why breeders put such emphasis on conformation.

 

[Boss Mare]

In my opinion this is a surgical fix.. I don't feel you will achieve desired results with farrier work. But would welcome the opinion of a farrier you trusted.. I agree it's going to involve more than trimming but shoes / glued wedges..

Years ago I had an older large horse with something similar. He was very aged, 30-40 year

old range!! I purchased him and he had a slight clubbed front foot. We work with our farrier to lower heels etc. every 4-5 weeks and it wasn't improving. About a year later it got worse. He almost completely knuckled over and was walking on top of his fetlock joint. Throughout that year I did have a few different vets exam him.. Back in the year 2000 the estimate I received for surgery to cut the tendon was about $500 - however with his age too much arthritis had set in and his joint basically fused. The surgery didn't have as good of a success rate. We kept him comfortable and he lived out another year, happy and as active as a old guy his age could be. He was laid to rest due to unrelated issues.

The fact your girl is so young I believe surgery would bring her a very good outcome. In addition to working with a farrier to correct her hooves once the leg is back in place so to speak.

Good luck.

 

[drmatthewtaylor]

Mine would be $800-1200.

Dr. Taylor

 

[SilverRose Farms]

Your vet costs may vary greatly due to location.

Our vets out here tend to be more expensive than elsewhere... But one of the colts in my barn had a similar surgery done in one leg and it was about $800. He had special shoes to encourage the proper hoof and leg angles for 6-8 months afterwards. He looks great now.

I'd assume the earlier you can correct it, the better the prognosis.

Although she looks and moves sound now, improper leg and hoof angulation can have serious consequences down the road which is why breeders put such emphasis on conformation.

No I put great store in conformation. It doesnt matter color or anything if it doesnt have conformation I dont breed it. Both parents are super super correct which is why it floors me that she has any issues at all.

Ive seen all the pedigree on the stallion. All the parents grandparents ect back 4 generations.

The dam I have been unable to get past the 2 or 3rd generation.

 

[disneyhorse]

I'm not saying that you don't look at conformation (although I haven't seen photos of any of your horses to make judgement of that) I'm just saying that not correcting the conformational deformity can lead to issues down the road

 

[SilverRose Farms]

I'm not saying that you don't look at conformation (although I haven't seen photos of any of your horses to make judgement of that) I'm just saying that not correcting the conformational deformity can lead to issues down the road

I understand. I do know TONS and I do mean tons of breeders who look no further than IT HAS COLOR or it is by this horse out of that horse they are perfect.

She will get to the specialist ASAP. I will be saving up and getting her there AS SOON as possible.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

The problem could be recessive- ie as with dwarfism, you will not get an affected foal unless you get the genetics form both parents, but even so, both parents carry one side of the gene . So, even if the next foal is not affected it could well be carrying the problem. Looking at the pedigree is great, and it is sometimes all we have to go by, but remember that it is unlikely that if a champion animal was throwing foals with this problem anyone would admit it, just as they hide dwarfs! Dr Taylors statistics of 15% are a little lower than the 25% that you get dwarfs under these circumstances but as he is using memory of specific cases not written statistics it is well within the parameters of normality. I am afraid it does not matter how pretty she is, unfortunately and I am very happy to hear she has a home for life. If the stallion threw just one more foal like this I would be doing some serious thinking about his future, too......

 

[HGFarm]

I have to say, I HATE it when I see that a farrier or vet claims they are not familiar with Minis. It's all the same! A horse is a horse is a horse. The same angles and correcting apply to a Mini that would apply to a big horse. I always have to really wonder about a farrier who claims they are great with a big horse but doesnt know enough about Minis. Nothing changes except the horse is just shorter! Sorry if I am ranting, but I have seen some Minis feet and legs really messed up by people who CLAIM to be farriers and have no clue what they are doing. The vet should have no excuse in my opinion- it's the same bone structure, etc....

 

[stormy]

Perhaps Dr Taylor will comment on this, not sure how up to date it is but years ago when working on an arab farm tetracycline was used therapeutically for contracted tendons....wondering if that is still a viable option??

 

[drmatthewtaylor]

Oxytetracycline can be helpful in mild to moderate contracted tendon conditions.

This isn't a contracted tendon and I do not believe oxtet would be helpful in this situation.

Dr. Taylor