Bacteria may also enter the joint directly through injury, not only in foals, but in horses of any age. Injuries near joints should always be thoroughly investigated. Foals with septic arthritis may appear lame or, if more than one joint is affected, unable to walk. They may also have swelling and decreased range of motion due to physical distension and pain. Fever may or may not be present.
Diagnosis requires a complete history.
One of the most important questions your veterinarian will ask concerns the amount of colostrum the mother s first milk the foal received. Your veterinarian will also do a thorough physical examination and may do blood tests, cultures of joint fluids, and a Cite test to evaluate levels of antibodies received from colostrum. The bacteria can adhere to the lining of the joint and may not get drawn into the needle when sampled. If the foal has already been on anti-microbial drugs, the amount of bacteria present may be low. These antibiotics need to be administered for 2 to 3 weeks after the clinical signs are gone.