Your filly has been diagnosed with an infection of the growth plate just above 
the fetlock.  Amikacin, the antibiotic the foal 
has been started on need to be continued for at least 6 weeks. At that point we 
will retest to see if bacteria are still present in the bone.  The foal will 
also need rechecks initially every week and more often if signs do 
not improve within a week.  We will take radiographs at the first few rechecks 
to be sure that the bone is healing.  Phenylbutazone is being used to control 
the amount of inflammation in the joint and bone and allow the area to heal.  If 
the foal seems to be not improving we will later need to take out the part of 
the bone that has died in the infection to better allow the drugs we are using 
to get to the area where the bacteria are.  The foal should 
not be turned out on pasture for at least a few months to rest the joint.  The 
joint should be allowed to freely move while the foal is confined to a stall in 
order to maintain its range of motion.  After the infection has begun to clear 
up exercises where you move the joint through its normal range of motion while 
the foal is not placing its weight on it.  The probability for recovery is 
dependent on the amount of damage that has already been done to the growth plate 
and joint and the amount that they can heal.  The foal may recover completely, 
recover somewhat but not completely, or could possibly even not respond to 
therapy and need to be euthanized.  It is extremely important to follow the 
instructions you are given concerning the medications at each follow-up 
appointment.