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Skip Navigation LinksAll Horse Topics > Lameness (Hoof) and Shoeing > Diagnosing Lameness


Articles ( * = TheHorse.com members only )Date Posted
Weaving Worries
Q: I have a 12-year-old Tennessee Walker who weaves. I recently obtained him and noticed lameness in the right front leg. I had radiographs and testing done to rule out the really bad causes, such as laminitis, navicular, and founder. The radiographs were normal except for slight arthritic changes. I did not, however, have the veterinarian look at ... Read full story
 9/1/2009
New Equine Pain Scoring System Could Provide Quicker, More Effective Intervention  *
A new stall-side pain scoring system for horses could help veterinarians better determine the need for analgesics in lame horses, according to Kirsten Wegner, DVM, Dipl. ACVA (veterinary anesthesiology), an assistant professor of anesthesia at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center. In order to properly manage pain in lame horses, veterinarians ... Read full story
 8/8/2009
Diagnosing Lameness Early
Catching and addressing a lameness problem early, when you first notice something is "not quite right," gives your horse a better chance for a quick recovery. Horse owners dread the day their horse "isn't traveling quite right." Your gelding might seem a bit off when you're working him on the longe line. Maybe your mare isn't striding out like she ... Read full story
 5/1/2009
AAEP 2008: The Board Test for Lameness   *
Extension tests (such as trotting a horse off after he stands on a toe wedge for a short time) are sometimes used to detect certain lamenesses, but their use and interpretation are generally not very standardized between practices and practitioners. Until now. At the 2008 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Dec. 6-10 in San ... Read full story
 4/14/2009
AAEP 2008: Navicular Bursa Injections   *
When a horse has pain in the rear half of the foot, injection of the navicular bursa (sac cushioning the navicular bone from the deep digital flexor tendon) is often considered as a treatment option. Corticosteroids (to control inflammation) and possibly hyaluronate (HA, to improve the bursa's lubrication and decrease synovial inflammation, or inflammation ... Read full story
 3/30/2009
Lame or Neurologic? Brain Stimulation Might Tell  *
According to Belgian researcher Heidi Nollet, DVM, PhD, and colleagues from the Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, University of Gent, transcranial magnetic stimulation of a specific region of the brain called the motor cortex can be a powerful tool to help differentiate between a subtle lameness due to a musculoskeletal problem and a neurologic ... Read full story
 3/25/2009
MRI Diagnostics: Uses and Limitations   *
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging technique that uses magnetic fields to create various types of cross-sectional and three-dimensional images. While commonly used by physicians, MRI has only been used in equine clinical cases for the past decade and has come into widespread use just within the past five years. This modality provides superior ... Read full story
 1/5/2009
University of Melbourne Vet Hospital Expands Equine Facility  *
A new track designed specifically for detecting lameness in horses and five refurbished boxes for treating foals have been opened at the University of Melbourne's Veterinary Clinic and Hospital based in Werribee, Australia. Equine staff at the hospital now also have access to a mechanical ventilator for animals in need of respiratory support. These ... Read full story
 10/31/2008
Investigating Palmar Foot Pain  *
“We have two papers that will be published this year comparing horses without radiographic changes that were diagnosed by MRI with damage in the heel region,” says Sarah Sampson, DVM, of Washington State University. “We looked at 72 horses with clinical signs (of palmar foot pain) that have become lame within the last six months. In the second paper ... Read full story
 9/1/2008
Cases that Mimic Navicular Disease  *
"With MRI we've found horses with coffin bone fractures that weren't visible on X rays, but were treated like navicular horses because they blocked to the heel," says Sarah Sampson, DVM, of Washington State University. "If these are managed like navicular horses, they don't heal because they don't get the rest they need and are not put into a shoe ... Read full story
 9/1/2008
Lameness Exams in Horses  *
Lameness problems in horses are an ever-growing concern for horse owners. With a rising demand for top performance, the challenge is for veterinarians to keep up with improved diagnostics and treatment modalities. Furthermore, many work-ups today are related to improving performance, not just solving an obvious lameness issue, as subtle pain can hamper ... Read full story
 3/1/2008
TheHorse.com Videos: Vet Procedures
New glaucoma procedure (Courtesy Dr. James Clinton) (0:51 min) 12/13/07 Read article University of Georgia staff corrects uterine torsion using ropes, a plank of wood, and a burly volunteer (0:41 min) 11/6/07 Read article Dr. Bruce Lyle's Matscan pressure mat for gait analysis (1:21 min) 8/27/07 Read article Matscan to assess and ... Read full story
 2/4/2008
Quantifying Lameness: Ground Matters  *
At the AAEP Blue-Ribbon Panel Research Meeting in Ft. Collins, Colo., on Aug. 1, Paul René Van Weeren, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ECFS, associate professor, Department of Equine Sciences at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, discussed evaluating ground reaction forces to determine how a horse's limbs interact with its environment. He explained that either ... Read full story
 11/21/2007
Helping Foot Pain: Blocking Tendon Sheath Might Aid Diagnosis   *
At the AAEP Blue-Ribbon Panel Research Meeting in Ft. Collins, Colo., on Aug. 1, Michael Schramme, DVM, CertE, PhD, Dipl. ECVS, of North Carolina State University, discussed analgesia of the tendon sheath and its significance to digital flexor tendon pain in the foot. His research was conducted with three models--one involved tightening set screws ... Read full story
 11/19/2007
Focus on Lameness  *
See what veterinarians and owners learned during the AAEP's late summer meeting on lameness. Want to know what veterinarians talk about when they get together? This year it was lameness. Late each summer the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) hosts a seminar focusing on one particular aspect of equine health. The 2007 AAEP Focus ... Read full story
 11/1/2007
Nip a Bone Spur in the Bud?
Q: I recently bought an expensive 8-year-old hunter-jumper that was radiographed at purchase. He was an excellent junior show horse and is already proven. He vetted sound. However, I sent his X rays to a second vet for interpretation because the horse always pinned his ears over a jump. A small (early) bone spur (a sharp bony projection at the joint ... Read full story
 9/1/2007
Detecting Pain  *
Recent studies have shown that horses are far more stoic than we had imagined. On the scale of pain tolerance, they are much higher than people. For example, the thrashing colicky horse often needs surgery, and after surgery, pain is very difficult to detect. For years veterinarians have walked by hospitalized horses after colic surgery and figured ... Read full story
 9/1/2007
Where Does It Hurt?  *
One of the most frustrating aspects of diagnosing and treating lameness in horses is that they can't tell you where it hurts. But a relatively new technology to the equine world is helping some veterinarians pinpoint lameness problems. Bruce Lyle, DVM, a veterinarian who focuses on foot care in Aubrey, Texas, has been using a Matscan pressure measurement ... Read full story
 8/27/2007
Specialized Lameness Evaluation for the Jumping Horse  *
Horses performing different jobs require specialized examinations for lameness, according to Philippe Benoit, DVM, French jumping team veterinarian from 1991 to 2000. Benoit presented his method for examining jumping horses at the 2006 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention in San Antonio, Texas, held Dec. 2-6 Benoit said he likes ... Read full story
 7/5/2007
Beyond the Surface: Imaging Referral Practices  *
He's been poked and prodded, trotted in straight lines and flexed, hoof-tested and blocked, and yet there's nothing standing out in these examinations or on his X rays that would explain your horse's intermittent lameness. There are no obvious swellings, no apparent sensitivities to said prodding, and you can't recall an injury incident. His shortened ... Read full story
 7/1/2007
Foot X Rays: A Crystal Ball?   *
When you look at a radiograph (X ray) of a horse's foot, do you visualize soft tissues, or do you only see bones? If there's one thing Ric Redden, DVM, founder of the International Equine Podiatry Center in Versailles, Ky., consistently teaches, it's that there is always more to learn about a horse's foot if you only know how to look. He recently offered ... Read full story
 6/17/2007
Diagnostic Imaging for Lameness  *
There was a time when diagnosing lameness was basic-watch the horse travel, determine where you think the problem might be, and take a guess at what's causing it. Then came X rays, ultrasound, CT (computed tomography) scans, scintigraphy (bone scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the ability to take an inside look at bones and tissues. It ... Read full story
 5/1/2007
Putting Science Into Farriery: Lameness Evaluation   *
When a group of people are standing at the barn watching a "lame" horse move, many of you will say he's lame in different legs. How do you know who's right? If it makes you feel any better, picking out the source of lameness isn't always easy for veterinarians and farriers, either. Andrew Parks, MA, VetMB, MRCVS, Dipl. ACVS, professor of large animal ... Read full story
 4/9/2007
Feet First: Farriery Topics from the 2006 AAEP Convention  *
The annual convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, held in San Antonio, Texas, in early December 2006, had three sessions devoted to foot care that were open to farriers. Following are synopses of some of those presentations. Complete coverage and full-length articles from the AAEP convention can be found online at www.TheHorse.com/AAEP2006. ... Read full story
 4/1/2007
Function of the Palmar Foot   *
Several lameness problems can exist in the rear (palmar) half of a horse's foot; most bear the very general title of "heel pain." The real problem is that without very careful diagnosis, lameness in this general area might be attributed to the wrong structures within the foot, and treating the wrong structure is ineffective at best. Additionally, understanding ... Read full story
 3/24/2007
MRI Provides New View of Navicular Disease   *
Based on more than a thousand MRI exams at Washington State University (WSU), Robert Schneider, DVM, MS, an equine orthopedic surgeon at WSU, reports that the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will locate the pathology of navicular disease 90% percent of the time. Schneider spoke about equine foot lameness at the Western Performance Horse Forum held ... Read full story
 3/16/2007
Supporting Limb Laminitis: Learning How to Save Horses Such As Barbaro   *
While flags might not have flown at half-mast on Monday to lament Barbaro's death, news of his death hit people around the world with an emotional gut punch. We've been pulling for the courageous colt's recovery since May 20, 2006, when he shattered his right hind leg running in the Preakness Stakes. We've cheered his progress and prayed during his ... Read full story
 2/3/2007
New Diagnostics Help Decipher Navicular Pain  *
One of the most exciting aspects of Sport Horse Medicine recently is the work being done with diagnosing lameness that involves the back half of the foot in equine athletes. This means deciphering all the anatomical structures in the region that may be potentially injured, identifying the injury to the structure and then applying an appropriate treatment ... Read full story
 8/9/2006
Lameness Diagnosis at Home   *
A University of Missouri-Columbia (UM) veterinarian and his associates have developed a motion detection system for diagnosing and quantifying equine lameness and spinal ataxia (incoordination). Kevin Keegan, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, associate professor of veterinary medicine and surgery at UM, says the portable system should be useful to the equine practitioner ... Read full story
 4/1/2006
AAEP Convention 2005: The Science of Lameness  *
Both horse owners and veterinarians spend a lot of time observing horses for lameness, but not all observers perceive lameness the same. Sometimes this is because of a less than clear understanding of equine biomechanics. Researchers such as Florian Buchner, DMV, PhD, an equine orthopedic surgeon at the University of Vienna, are seeking to better explain ... Read full story
 2/17/2006
Helping Horses Worldwide  *
As a responsible horse owner, you make management decisions that affect the current well-being of your horse and his future vitality. You order low-dust bedding for your gelding with heaves. Your veterinarian arrives for her scheduled visit and you observe as she administers your mare's autumn vaccinations. You keep the new pony that shipped in yesterday ... Read full story
 11/1/2005
Treadmills for Diagnosing Lameness   *
Quiet progress in using sophisticated techniques for diagnosing lameness has been taking place in research laboratories around the world. Researchers from Missouri to Australia and from Virginia to Switzerland are perfecting techniques for utilizing high-speed cameras and treadmills to diagnose obscure lamenesses and help determine correct trimming ... Read full story
 7/1/2005
Hoof Radiographs   *
Your horse is limping and a detailed visual exam by your veterinarian reveals a small black spot, suggesting a puncture wound. Your veterinarian radiographs the hoof: The X rays confirm the diagnosis, clearly showing the direction and depth of the puncture. But for other hoof disorders, radiographs can fail to determine a cause of lameness, and your ... Read full story
 5/1/2005
AAEP Convention 2004 Wrap-Up: Lameness  *
Lameness Diagnosis via Head and Pelvis Movement "I used to think I knew how to evaluate a horse's movement for lameness, until I started to look more carefully. Two highly experienced practitioners can evaluate a lame horse and come up with different (lame) legs," said Kevin Keegan, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, associate professor of veterinary medicine ... Read full story
 3/3/2005
AAEP Convention 2004: Lameness Diagnosis via Head and Pelvis Movement  *
"I used to think I knew how to evaluate a horse's movement for lameness, until I started to look more carefully. Two different highly experienced practitioners can evaluate a lame horse, and come up with different [lame] legs," said Kevin Keegan, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, associate professor of veterinary medicine and surgery at the University of Missouri, ... Read full story
 2/14/2005
BEVA Shares Education  *
The United Kingdom is famous for its rich history and deeply rooted traditions, but that doesn't mean its veterinarians are bound to ancient methods of equine medicine. Quite the contrary, the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) hosts one of the world's most in-depth, cutting-edge continuing education meetings every year--the BEVA Congress. ... Read full story
 2/1/2005
Assessing Multiple Limb Lameness  *
"Horses with lameness in more than one limb are a diagnostic challenge, especially if both a forelimb and a hindlimb are involved," said Sue J. Dyson, FRCVS, of the Center for Equine Studies at the Animal Health Trust, during her presentation on the topic at the 43rd British Equine Veterinary Association Congress, held Sept. 15-18 in Birmingham, U.K. ... Read full story
 1/18/2005
Lameness and Pelvic Height  *
The results of a recent study published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research suggest that hind limb lameness in the horse can be evaluated most effectively and objectively by measuring changes in pelvic height during trotting. Accurate assessment of lameness in horses is essential for making the correct diagnosis and deciding on the proper ... Read full story
 10/12/2004
New Equine Performance Centre for Guelph  *
The University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, has unveiled plans to build a new multi-million-dollar Equine Performance Centre, dedicated to diagnosing and treating problems in performance horses. The facility is designed to rival those of the New Bolton Centre, Cornell University, University of California/Davis, ... Read full story
 9/23/2004
Gaining a Foothold  *
All horses benefit when veterinarians, researchers, and farriers meet to share information and learn from each others' experiences. One of these notable meetings is the annual Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium, hosted in Louisville, Ky., by Ric Redden, DVM, and his wife Nancy, of the International Equine Podiatry Center in Versailles, Ky. The Symposium ... Read full story
 8/1/2004
Why Horses Stumble   *
Some horses stumble or stub their front toes frequently, with the toe hitting the ground while the knee is still bent and the leg collapses instead of taking weight. The horse's head and neck drop down, but he usually catches himself by rapidly extending the other leg. Most of these horses are not lame, yet might occasionally fall to their knees or ... Read full story
 6/1/2004
Lameness Diagnostics  *
Quite often, the diagnostic tools and techniques at the disposal of your mobile veterinary service are all that are needed to solve the mystery. Some horse owners have been through this routine a time or two: Your vet will ask to see your horse move on a straight line and on a circle, then on a hard surface and a soft one. He or she will ask when you're ... Read full story
 6/1/2004
Managing Hoof Problems in Horses  *
Just about every horse out there has what we might call a hoof problem on at least one of his four feet. It might be a simple mismatch that might not really be a problem, or it might be much more serious. In any case, hoof problems, regardless of scope, need to be managed properly to maximize the horse's soundness, comfort, and usefulness to you. The ... Read full story
 6/1/2004
Gait Monitoring System Introduced  *
Farriers got an eyeful of what the future might hold for them at the highest levels of equestrian sport at the American Farrier's Association (AFA) Convention, held in March 2004 in Rochester, New York. This future is specialized video monitoring of horses at work to help make adjustments to their shoes for better performance. Courtesy Haydn ... Read full story
 4/13/2004
Compensating for Lameness; Not What You Thought   *
When a horse is lame, he often seems to be changing his gait in the diagonal limb to compensate. Recent research has shown this to be true, but the manner in which the horse does this is surprising. Research was conducted at the McPhail Equine Performance Center at Michigan State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. Often in hind limb lameness ... Read full story
 3/1/2004
AAEP Wrap-Up: Lameness  *
P3 Alignment In Laminitic Horses "Chronic laminitis is a frustrating and, at times, disheartening condition to manage," said Stephen O'Grady, BVSc, MRCVS. "Treating chronic laminitis is always a challenge; here we move a bit away from veterinary medicine into the mechanics of farriery." With chronic laminitis, O'Grady said that toe-downward ... Read full story
 3/1/2004
Drug Interaction in Lame Horses  *
Whether it is in the Olympics, Major League Baseball, college football or horse racing, the use of multiple pain-relieving drugs to enhance performance is a major concern. Now, one University of Missouri-Columbia veterinarian is testing different combinations of non-steroidal, pain-killing drugs in horses to determine if their use actually enhances ... Read full story
 2/26/2004
AAEP 2003: Kester News Hour  *
With researchers worldwide working on solutions to various horse health problems, there is a veritable mountain of information being published continuously. Much of this information is included in AAEP convention presentations, but some of this valuable research was either too new or brief to be included in the program. Thus, the Kester News Hour has ... Read full story
 2/18/2004
AAEP 2003: Podiatry Forum  *
While some forum discussions at the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) annual convention are fairly small affairs, that wasn't true of the 2003 podiatry forum. About 65 veterinarians and farriers filled the room to discuss diagnostic analgesia, pads, Strasser trimming, ultrasound, and much more. Tracy Turner, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, ... Read full story
 2/3/2004
Clinical and Radiographic Examination of the Equine Foot  *
1. Introduction Lameness is one of the most frequently encountered problems in equine practice. The foot is involved, either directly or indirectly, in the large majority of lameness cases, because it is the first line of defense for the animal. The health of the foot plays a major role in the fight or flight response that has preserved this noble ... Read full story
 1/28/2004
If Your Horse's Feet Could Talk  *
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article gives horse owners a glimpse into the methods used by one experienced veterinarian to monitor the feet of his clients' horses. Your veterinarian might have developed his/her own special way to follow the normal/abnormal foot, or you might be looking for a place to start a program to track your horse's foot health. It has ... Read full story
 10/1/2003
Stop Problems Before They Start  *
Thought you knew the latest in keeping your horse healthy from head to toe? Think again! Richard Mansmann, VMD, PhD, from Central Carolina Equine Practice in Chapel Hill, N.C., is using a preventive foot care program that's designed to detect early and/or prevent foot problems that could limit performance in horses. This program involves at least an ... Read full story
 6/1/2003
Venogram Procedure (Step By Step)   *
Following is an in-depth description of the steps taken to perform the digital venogram. I encourage you to follow each of these steps to achieve consistent, informative venograms. I. PREPARATION Work Area 1. Choose a safe, quiet area.2. A flat surface such as concrete is necessary. Equipment 1. Radiograph a. Radiograph machineb. Minimum ... Read full story
 4/14/2003
Interpreting Venograms and Artifacts   *
Becoming familiar with the range of normal venograms is difficult, but it is more difficult to become accustomed to artifacts that are induced by incorrect techniques. This presentation will attempt to discuss interpreting changes present on venograms. We will also review common findings of the pathologic foot. Consistency in procedure is the key ... Read full story
 4/14/2003
Heel Pain in Horses   *
Your previously normal horse has developed lameness, which you notice as a stiff, short-strided gait that is worse on the turns and worse on hard ground. Giving your horse phenylbutazone (Bute) dramatically improves the signs of lameness for a period of time, but the lameness persists and gets slightly worse. With these clinical signs, the fear of ... Read full story
 4/1/2003
Navicular Syndrome/Heel Pain   *
There is probably no truer adage, "No hoof, no horse." Without this solid foundation, a horse cannot perform to his potential no matter how well trained, how fit, or how athletic he might be. A steady clip-clop rhythm at the trot gives you a sense of well-being as each hoof beat chimes aloud that your horse is sound. But when that cadence becomes even ... Read full story
 4/1/2003
Understanding the Venogram  *
This procedure allows veterinarians to see blood flow in the foot. Although it's still not widely used, the venogram (a procedure for visualizing blood flow within the foot) has been acclaimed by many as an essential tool for treating lame horses, especially laminitic ones. In her presentation "Aspects of Normal Digital Venogram, Anatomy, Parameters, ... Read full story
 3/7/2003
From Forge to Foot  *
There isn't much time in the busy farrier's life to chat with his brethren of the forge. On the road before daylight, driving endless hours, and arriving home late at night after a hard day's work doesn't leave much time for socializing. However, the annual American Farrier's Association (AFA) Convention not only lets farriers get together for a good ... Read full story
 6/1/2002
Buddha Injury Still Uncertain  *
Diagnostics were still being done on pre-Derby second choice Buddha on the Monday after the race. His attending veterinarian, Dr. Ken Reed, said while they hadn’t found out a whole lot more, Buddha was sent on Sunday night (May 5) to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., under the care of Dr. Larry Bramlage. Buddha will undergo other testing ... Read full story
 5/6/2002
Hoofcare Education at Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium  *
One of the most common comments at the 15th annual Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium in Louisville, Ky., Jan. 21-23, 2002, was that if farriers or veterinarians don't have a passion for working on laminitic horses, they shouldn't take the cases. Horse owners know that a laminitic horse is a high-maintenance case in terms of treatment and convalescent care, ... Read full story
 4/1/2002
Limitations of Diagnostic Ultrasound of Bowed Tendons   *
Diagnostic ultrasound has become a popular means of monitoring the healing of superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries, also known as bowed tendons. As image analysis software has been developed, the technique has become more widespread. The problem is that with so many practitioners of varying skill using different types of ultrasound equipment, ... Read full story
 3/1/2002
Front Foot Flick
My 12-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse often "flicks" his left front foot when putting it forward. His previous owners said it was only a cosmetic problem, but my friends say it hurts him when I ride. However, after our latest three-mile ride, he didn't show any pain. What could cause this, and might he be in pain? Leslie Your horse should see a ... Read full story
 2/1/2002
Navicular Syndrome Diagnosis  *
"Navicular disease is very difficult to study, because you can't reproduce it in a normal horse," said Earl Gaughan, DVM, of Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. "You can't then work backward from the disease to find a cure. The pathogenesis for navicular syndrome remains unproven, but there are some common trends." He discussed ... Read full story
 1/25/2002
Value of Digital Venograms  *
A recent 10-horse study by Bruce Lyle, DVM, a primary care equine practitioner in Aubrey, Texas, looked at using digital venography (injecting radio-opaque dye into a blood vessel to measure blood flow in the foot) to enhance a practitioner's ability to reasonably predict the course of laminitis early on, stimulate thought for new treatments, and to ... Read full story
 1/24/2002
Radiographic and Venogram Technique  *
“Pulling a handful of films from the processor hoping a few of them are good enough and knowing full well that most will not be diagnostic is not only frustrating, but a tremendous financial black hole for all concerned,” said Ric Redden, DVM, in the first presentation of the 15th annual Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium January 21-23, 2002. This presentation ... Read full story
 1/21/2002
AAEP 1996 Convention Wrapup  *
A variety of topics, ranging from the sophisticated to the mundane, were discussed by presenters who offered their findings under the umbrella subject--The Foot. Opening the session was Tracy A. Turner, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS, of the University of Minnesota. He discussed the "Predictive Value of Diagnostic Tests for Navicular Pain." A study at ... Read full story
 10/18/2001
Dubai Symposium 1996  *
His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in his opening remarks at the Dubai International Equine Symposium summed up the purpose of the meeting in six words: For the good of the horse. He arranged for an unprecedented gathering of the world's experts to discuss the health and problems associated with soft tissues. As important as ... Read full story
 10/16/2001
Thermography: Hot Images and a Hot Topic  *
When preparing the equine athlete, the typical trainer anticipates long-term soundness, yet agonizes about injury. Horsemen know that as the horse performs to a higher standard, he will probably experience varying amounts of soreness and pain. Just as no one can predict how the equine athlete will perform, so no person can forecast the effects of stress ... Read full story
 10/16/2001
Thermography: Diagnosis Tool for Horses  *
Scenario: Your event horse has just not been right. He seems to be getting a bit stiff to the right, and he's been grouchy when you are grooming him and getting him tacked up. No fever. No definite lameness. But something isn't right, you tell your veterinarian. Courtesy Tracy Turner, DVM Sinusitis ... Read full story
 10/4/2001
Get It While It's Hot: Scintigraphy  *
It is not difficult for a practitioner to diagnose a complete displaced bone fracture in a horse. The animal normally will be lame, and there will be swelling. Radiographs will pinpoint the injury and its severity. However, it is not so easy when dealing with a nondisplaced stress fracture. "Stress fractures," says M.J. Martinelli, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ... Read full story
 9/13/2001
Joints Part 2: Joint Disease  *
Among the most highly engineered, finely tuned machines built by man are race cars that zip around the Indianapolis 500 track at speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour. However, even the most perfectly constructed car will develop problems from continued competition. It is much the same with the performance horse and his joints. Even with perfect construction ... Read full story
 9/1/2001
Is He Really Lame?  *
You want your horse to be sound and stay sound. But calling the vet out for a thorough workup every time your horse stumbles or acts stiff can get costly, and waste your veterinarian's valuable time--especially if those problems turn out to be training troubles in disguise. On the other hand, leaving a sore horse untreated might exacerbate the current ... Read full story
 8/1/2001
Ain't Doin' Right Diagnostics  *
Many horses can be off in their performance, yet not show clinical signs of lameness. There might be no answers after the customary diagnostic work-up, leaving veterinarian and owner scratching their heads and looking for the next stop in the quest for a diagnosis. Carl Kirker-Head, MRCVS, Dipl. ACVS, Marilyn M. Simpson Chair in Equine Medicine of ... Read full story
 1/1/2001
Gait Analysis  *
Ever since the 1880s, when Edweard Muybridge set up a series of cameras to capture the character of footfalls of a racehorse, we’ve been fascinated by how horses move. No doubt you’ve seen that early sequence of photos, which demonstrated that the artists who produced hunting prints and racing scenes were wrong: horses didn’t trot or gallop in great ... Read full story
 9/1/1999
Pattern Of Bone Injury In The Jumping Horse   *
Nuclear scintigraphy is a technique used to identify areas of increased bone material turnover. This remodeling of bone can occur in response to growth, fracture, increased loading due to exercise, infection, cancer or arthritis. Scintigraphy has become a valuable tool in the location and identification of bone injuries in horses.The technique of nuclear ... Read full story
 6/11/1999
The Use of Thermography in Lameness Evaluation  *
Lameness diagnosis can be very frustrating when the source of pain is located in the upper leg and is not associated with a synovial structure, or the lameness is too subtle to utilize diagnostic analgesic injections, or the patient is not amenable to these injections, or the lameness is difficult to eliminate by local analgesic injection. These cases ... Read full story
 6/1/1999
Canadian Equine Research  *
The University of Guelph, located in Ontario, Canada, is home of the world renowned Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). The university is a research-intensive and student-oriented facility. Its written mission is to serve society and to enhance the quality of life through education with a global perspective. The university offers a wide range of programs, ... Read full story
 4/1/1999
Equine Back Problems  *
Equine back problems are common, particularly in performance horses. The conditions involved can be primary or can result from lameness, ill-fitting tack, or even inadequate schooling. It is noteworthy that the most common reason for presentation of a back problem is poor performance rather than pain. Despite the availability of sophisticated clinical ... Read full story
 5/1/1998
Hind End Lameness
I have a 4-year-old hunter who has become lame in his hind end. He routinely goes over 2' 6" jumps, but never anything larger. Being only 5'3", I do not think that my problem is the weight I am asking him to carry. There are no obvious problems with his hind end that I can see. What types of tests can I expect to be performed on him to determine his ... Read full story
 10/1/1997
Pelvic Fractures
My horse was sound when he was turned out one night, and the next morning he was lame in the hind end. It took quite a few diagnostics by my veterinarian before it was determined that he had suffered a slight pelvic fracture. How common is this and what is his prognosis? Unlike in small animals, pelvic fractures in horses are much less common. ... Read full story
 1/1/1997
Nerve Blocks of the Lower Limb  *
When a veterinarian performs a lameness examination, he or she often will use nerve blocks to try and determine the location of the problem. The areas are "blocked" so that they become numb to pain, revealing which structures are involved in causing lameness. In the equine lower limb, there are two distinct sets of peripheral nerves: sensory (afferent) ... Read full story
 10/1/1996
Dorsiflexion and Carpal Damage  *
Last time we talked about carpal arthrosis, pointing out that too much bowing--dorsiflexion--of the foreleg at the knee was the immediate cause of damage to the articular cartilage. Further, with a bit of mechanics, we saw that too much dorsiflexion at the knee occurred because the resisting moment (turning force) generated by the muscles and tendons ... Read full story
 2/1/1996




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