Handling Non-Weight Bearing Lameness in the Field (AAEP 2012)

Non-weight-bearing lameness is one of the most common emergencies practitioners manage in the field.
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One of the most common calls an ambulatory equine practitioner receives is that from a panicked owner whose horse becomes three-legged lame seemingly overnight, said Ryan Penno, DVM, a practitioner at The Equine Clinic at Oakencroft, in Ravana, N.Y. Whether the cause is a simple abscess or a complex fracture, Penno described how to manage acute-onset, non-weight-bearing lameness cases during his presentation at the 2012 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) convention, held Dec. 1-5 in Anaheim, Calif.

Veterinarians regularly encounter the most common causes of such lameness–penetrating hoof injuries, subsolar hoof abscesses, cellulitis, laminitis, fractures, and soft tissue injuries–so they must feel comfortable diagnosing and treating them, said Penno.

Examination

Severe lameness cases often present as a Grade 4 ("obvious lameness with a marked nodding, hitching, or shortened stride") or 5 ("lameness produces minimal weight-bearing in motion and/or at rest, or a complete inability to move") lameness on the AAEP’s five-point scale, he said

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Erica Larson, former news editor for The Horse, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.

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