Client Education

1. We will attempt to clean out the joint with local anesthesia to improve 
antibiotic effectiveness.  
2. Systemic Antibiotics will be needed long term.  It is important that the 
medication be given in a timely and consistent manner in order to prevent a 
relapse.
3. NSAIDS (Phenylbutazone - Bute) as needed to improve patient comfort 
4. Prolonged rest from exercise to allow healing.  This means stall rest with 
hand-walking periodically. 
5. Some motion is needed in order to allow the joint to maintains proper 
function.  You can do this by manually flexing the joint two times a day for as 
long as the animal is confined to the stall.
6. If no progress is noticed within 2 weeks of the start of the systemic 
antibiotic treatment we must re-evaluate the animal and consider further 
treatment.
7. Prognosis is guarded, but better for foals with single joint infections than 
for adults.  If bone involvement occurs or if the problem becomes chronic the 
prognosis will be significantly reduced.