Foals with contracted limbs, which can prevent them from standing or walking normally, often display a variety of other physical abnormalities that veterinarians haven’t directly tied to the contractures. Understanding correlations between these characteristics could help veterinarians build a bank of knowledge to help guide treatment down the most effective path.

To this end, a group of researchers worked together to develop a uniform system for classifying cases of contracted foal syndrome (CFS). Jana Caldwell, MS, a PhD candidate at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science, described the preliminary classification system she developed in a presentation at the 2012 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Dec. 1-5 in Anaheim, Calif. Caldwell said she collaborated with colleagues—including Nathan M. Slovis DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, CHT, of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, in Lexington, Ky.—on this project.

"A classification system will help make associations between certain phenotypes (expressed visible traits), optimal treatment approaches, and prognoses," she said.

Caldwell noted that CFS can affect any number of limbs and severe cases might require euthanasia. Mildly affected foals can receive medical and/or surgical treatment and lead productive lives