AAEP Convention 2005: Treating Sore Backs Table Topic

Kent Allen, DVM, of Virginia Equine Imaging, and Jerry Black, DVM, of Pioneer Equine in California, facilitated a table topic discussion of sore backs during the 2005 American Association of Equine Practitioner’s convention held Dec. 3-7 in

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Kent Allen, DVM, of Virginia Equine Imaging, and Jerry Black, DVM, of Pioneer Equine in California, facilitated a table topic discussion of sore backs during the 2005 American Association of Equine Practitioner’s convention held Dec. 3-7 in Seattle, Wash. The topic drew a standing-room-only crowd of veterinarians.


Black, whose clientele mostly consists of cutting and reining horses and those competing in other Western disciplines, said when looking at a horse with a sore back, look for something else first that is causing it before the back becomes chronic. In other words, lameness in a limb can cause the horse to carry himself differently, causing back pain.


Allen, whose Virginia Equine Imaging clinic functions as a regional diagnostic center, said diagnosis is important in order to be specific on the treatment. He said doing the first clinical exam is the most important thing you can do for a horse with a sore back. In his practice, 70% of the horses are jumpers or eventers. He watches these horses to see how the back moves and how supple it is. Allen said history can be an important red flag, and often includes poor performance, not just limping.
He said owners and veterinarians could reduce the number of secondary back problems with better and earlier lameness diagnosis and treatment.


When looking at the back, there are a number of things that can cause pain and stiffness. Allen said back diagnosis often needs a bone scan to show hot spots. He noted that in clinical exams, it’s hard to separate the back and pelvis when there is pain in that area. He said veterinarians can use rectal ultrasound to see some of the structures in the back and pelvis, but rarely does he use ultrasound as the primary diagnostic tool. “It’s too time-consuming,” said Allen

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Written by:

Kimberly S. Brown is the editor of EquiManagement/EquiManagement.com and the group publisher of the Equine Health Network at Equine Network LLC.

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