Ask The Equine Nutritionist

I bought a two year old filly four months ago. Since then she has been diagnosed with Epiphysitis in all four legs. I have not been working her mostly she has just been working on manners, ect. Could this have been caused by improper nutrition? I understand that she was kept in a large pasture and left alone and not fed anything else since weaning.

Is there anything I could feed her that might help, now, with resolving the Epiphysitis and preventing further problems?

A lot depends on exactly how the epiphysitis is manifesting its self?

Is she lame?

Does she have rounded joints (apple joints)

Is she showing tendon contracture etc.

If it is just the rounded joints get her onto a good quality mineral/vitamin supplement along with a good quality protein supplement.

DO NOT over feed the grain that will only make it worse, she needs only as much grain as is needed to get her to eat the mineral mix. 4oz per day of whole flax seed will help her too.

Good hay and grass are best for young horses as long as they get adequate mineral supplementation. I recommend LinGro for young horses or Buckeye Feeds Grow'n'Win or Pennfields balancer pellets. With any of these, you won't need to feed any grains at all.

RESPONSE

No, she has no tendon contracture, she is not lame, and yes, the joints are
rounded.

If I stay on the feeding regimen that you outlined, what can I expect, what could be the most favorable longterm prognosis? Thanks so much for your help! I've been very upset at all this!

FOLLOW UP ANSWER

She should grow more slowly and may well not be as plump, but her joints
will stay in better condition. If she is not lame then she may well not become lame, though the joints may stay a little rounded.

Good Luck its not too late any any means. If she isn't lame then you have caught it early enough.


Dr. Melyni Worth Ph.D. - 2004 (c)

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