Septic Arthritis in horses is a severe joint infection causing pain, swelling, and lameness, often requiring prompt veterinary treatment.

Septic Arthritis

This disease is life-threatening and should be treated by a veterinarian swiftly.

Septic arthritis is an acute form of osteoarthritis caused by a bacterial infection within the joint itself. This is extremely painful to the horse and can be equally difficult to treat.

Symptoms

  • Reluctant to stand
  • Reluctant to move
  • Lameness
  • Joint Swelling
  • Hot legs
  • High pulse
  • High respiration
  • High temperature
  • Lethargic

Common in

  • Foal
  • Yearling
  • Old horses

Treatment

Treatment should be started as soon as possible following the diagnosis of an infection.

Treatment aims to:

Eliminate the bacteria causing the infection, remove any foreign material such as grit, hair and dirt, prevent cartilage damage by removing destructive enzymes, control the spread of infection.

Lavage (flushing) of infected structures and antibiotics are the mainstays of treatment.

Prevention

In foals ensure there’s a good passive immunity transfer from the mare and prevent focal infection (e.g. omphalophlebitis).

Avoid traumatic periarticular injuries in older horses.

How Happie can help you manage your horse's health

Digital health management offers numerous benefits in modern equine healthcare. With the Happie Horse App, you can track symptom patterns and body values, such as Temperature, Pulse and Respiration. Allowing you to notice abnormal changes in body and behaviour early on, leading to more successful treatments. The Happie symptom checker allows you to add all of your horse's abnormal symptoms in order to present potential causes and diseases.

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