Foal - 5 months - one clubfoot (front)

[ladamron]

A very nice standardbred colt has been developing a clubfoot (RF) over the past three months. When we initially told our farrier of our concern and asked him to look at it, he said he couldn't see what we were talking about. On his recent visit several days ago, he appeared shocked ( :eek: ) at what is now a very obvious clubfoot. The foal is sometimes lame, but this does not stop him running about with all the vigor one would expect of a 5-month-old.
I can try to post pictures, if that would be helpful. Thanks in advance for any advice!!

[calshoer]

Given that he is developing a significant unilateral club foot this early in life, (most show up a little later, at the yearling stage) I would strongly recommend you get the expertise of a veterinarian who is very experienced in treating these. Even a trip to the nearest referral or teaching hospital would be worth the effort. These 'one footed' club feet are usually gentic, so look at sire and dam closely. And when the yshow up this early ,they go badly wrong very quickly. .

In my experience this would be the ideal time to do a inferior check ligament surgery, to temporarily release the tension in the Deep flexor tendon and get the flexor muscle in the upper limb to relax. Continual pain in the foot from the pull on the tendon only caues the whole flexor muscle to tension more in involuntary response. .A surgery performed this early, combined with the right complimemtary shoeing (temporary of course) could limit the extent of this developemental problem.
The trimming or shoeing that compliments check ligament surgery is exactly opposite for trimmign or shoeing without surgery.
So you need a farrier experienced in this as well,one who works wit hthe vet as part of a team. .
If you choose to forgoe surgery then the toe needs to be rolled regularly to ease breakover, the heels NOT trimmed down beyond where the foal lands at least flat, or heel forst.If he is landing toe first, wedge him up. Remember, the whole idea is to release tendon tension,so everything can relax, NEVER to try to stretch it.

On the other hand, if surgery IS performed, the toe needs to be extended and the heels lowered at the same time to insure the ligament remains lengthened as it heals . But this foot treatment is ONLY until the ligament heals! After it heals then the foot treatment should change back to the same as for 'no surgery'.....ie roll the toe and respect the heels.
I know so many cases where everything was ging great but the farrier or veterinarian contnued the toe extension, or 'tip' shoe, or trimming the heels aggressively long after the ligament healed, only tension the tendon again, thereby rotating the coffin bone again, restarting the whole problem. TIMING IS EVERTHING in these cases.
So to summarize, get an expert team no matter how far you have to travel if this is a valuable animal. And don't breed the culprit parent ever again. Patty

[ladamron]

I very much appreciate your clear and detailed response - thank you. There is an excellent clinic and also a teaching hospital within reasonable drives and we will consult with them today.
Regarding the parents, it's interesting: The mare has had 6 previous foals, one of whom is a full sister to this colt. None of the siblings exhibit this issue. It has been suggested to me (and I have no experience to judge this against) that our somewhat dry summer combined with the colt's mild fetish for pawing with his RF may have started this. Seems a bit far-fetched to me but as I say, no experience this end to judge one way or another.