🐴 Physitis in Young Horses: Managing Growth Plate Inflammation in 2025 🦴🥕

By Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

Foals between 3 and 6 months of age grow rapidly—but that growth can come with complications. One of the most common issues during this period is physitis, an inflammation of the growth plates at the ends of long bones. In 2025, early detection and proper nutrition remain key to resolving this condition. 🧠🐎

🧬 What Is Physitis?

Physitis refers to inflammation of the growth plate (physis), typically occurring:

• 🦴 Just above the knee (carpus)
• 🦵 Above the fetlock or hock joints

These swollen areas are often warm, tender, and painful—causing lameness that can range from mild to severe. ⚠️

📉 What Causes Physitis?

The most common culprit is excess energy intake from grain, milk, or lush pasture. ❌

Common Risk Factors:

• 🍀 Grazing rich, high-protein pastures
• 🥛 Nursing from high-producing mares
• 🥣 High levels of grain or concentrate feed

Rapid growth due to overfeeding increases stress on the growing bones—especially in large-breed or fast-maturing foals. 📈

🔍 Diagnosing Physitis

Vets suspect physitis when foals show:

• 🦶 Warm, symmetrical swelling near joints
• 🥱 Reluctance to move or mild lameness
• 🚷 A preference to lie down more than normal

📸 X-rays are critical to confirm the diagnosis and rule out joint fractures or infections. 🩻

🥕 Nutrition: The Core of Treatment

Once physitis is diagnosed, treatment focuses on controlling growth by adjusting the diet. 🔧

Step 1: Analyze and Reduce Energy

• 🥛 Wean early if the mare is overproducing milk
• 🌾 Switch from alfalfa to grass hay
• 🥣 Replace high-energy grains with a ration balancer

Ration balancers allow you to provide vitamins, minerals, and protein without overfeeding calories. ✅

⚠️ Important:

Don’t starve the foal—just rebalance the energy-to-nutrient ratio. Undernutrition can create new problems. ⚖️

🚷 Confinement Is Essential

Physitis is painful, and too much movement will worsen inflammation. Even foals that look okay will follow the mare everywhere and aggravate the condition. 😓

Tips:

• 🚫 Stall rest is best until pain and swelling subside
• 👣 Allow only short, supervised turnout as improvement begins

📈 Recovery Expectations

Most foals recover fully if physitis is caught early and managed well. Expect:

• 🗓️ 4–8 weeks for mild to moderate cases
• 🩺 Periodic vet rechecks to track progress

If swelling persists or worsens, advanced imaging may be required. 🧪

📲 Ask A Vet for Foal Growth Management

Need help adjusting your foal’s feeding program or managing joint swelling? Visit AskAVet.com or use the Ask A Vet App to get expert advice and a custom nutrition plan. 📱🐴

Dr Duncan Houston and the team can assess your feeding protocols, monitor for complications, and recommend safe supplements. 💬🧠

🏁 Final Thoughts

In 2025, physitis is a highly treatable condition—but it demands prompt nutritional correction and physical management. The earlier you intervene, the better the long-term outcome for your growing foal. 🐣🦴

Worried about joint swelling? Visit AskAVet.com for feeding support and growth strategies 🐴🥕