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Covering the tendons with a cold bandage, or with a heavy layer of antiphlogistin, is recommended. The horse should not be worked until after the tendons have had an opportunity to completely recover from the inflammation. CONTRACTED TENDONS, KNUCKLING-OVER. New-born foals are sometimes unable to stand on their front feet because of the excessive knuckling-over.
Knuckling-over in the newborn colt is commonly caused by a weakness or lack of innervation of the extensor muscle of the digit. Judging from the quick recovery that usually occurs, other causes for this condition are seldom present. The treatment recommended for the new-born colt is supporting the fetlock with a light plaster bandage.
The colt may walk on the front of the pastern and fetlock. This sometimes results in severe injury to the skin and the underlying tissues. Knuckling-over in the mature horse is not always due to contracted tendons. It may occur as a symptom of inflammation of the flexor tendons, ligaments of the fetlock joint and the articulation as well.
In about two weeks the young animal is usually able to walk on the toe. As soon as it is able to do this a bandage is unnecessary. It is not advisable to turn the colt outside if there is any chance for the bandages to become wet. Knuckling-over due to faulty conformation is difficult to correct. Light work and careful shoeing are the most valuable preventive measures in young horses.
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