Diagnosis: Joint sepsis Joint sepsis is more common in neonates than adults and the usual port of entry is the umbilicus, respiratory tract, or Gi tract. Trauma may also be a cause for septic arthritis since the skin covering the joints is minimal and easily penetrated. In this case bone lysis centers around the growth plate where the majority of blood supply occurs leading us to believe that the infection was spread hematogenously. The likely port of entry for a hematogenously spread bacteria in a two week old foal is the umbilicus. Kleibsiella pneumoniae was isolated from the joint signifying that infection of the joint has in fact occurred. Clinical signs including; right hind fetlock is painful to palpation, pitting edema, and toe touching lameness in the right hind leg, show that inflammation is present in the joint. The inflammation is localized to the joint, therefore total counts of wbc etc are not affected. Radiographs show joint effusion, soft tissue swelling, and subchondral bone lysis of the fetlock joint. This further supports the presence of inflammation in the joint. Analysis of the synovial fluid shows elevated protein content (>4mg/dl), and elevated white blood cells (>30,000/ul), which is consistent with joint sepsis.