Page 390 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

• Systemic broad-spectrum antibiotics

• Joint lavage
VetBooks.ir • Arthroscopy to remove any infected bone or synovial membrane

•
Intra-articular antibiotics and hyaluronic acid
• Regional limb perfusion with antibiotic

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the pain and inflammation. These

medicines can cause gastric ulceration in foals so are given together with omeprazole or
ranitidine to reduce this risk

• A period of at least 3–4 weeks box rest to reduce the forces on the damaged cartilage
within the joint.

These critically ill foals need intensive nursing, which may include:

• Fluid therapy

• Nutritional support

• Bandaging of the affected joints
• Support bandaging of the unaffected limbs

• Deep comfortable bedding with regular turning

• Gentle mobilization of affected joints and in-hand walking during the recovery period.

Prognosis

The prognosis is guarded to poor. The treatment is expensive and there is no guarantee of
success. Even if the infection is eliminated, the damage to the joint may prevent the foal from

developing into a successful athlete. Many foals are euthanased owing to persistent lameness.
However, early diagnosis and intensive therapy in otherwise healthy foals with a single

affected joint can have a positive outcome.

LYME DISEASE

Lyme disease is caused by the spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi. It is transmitted to humans

and horses by ticks which acquire the infection from feeding on infected rodents and deer,
which act as reservoirs of the disease. In the UK and Europe, the tick Ixodes ricinus is the

vector. Clinical infection of the horse in the UK is uncommon and the incubation period is
unknown. Once the horse is infected, the spirochaete multiplies and spreads in the blood to