Lameness in Horses

One issue that we help residents of Durango deal with at Centennial Equine Sports Medicine is lameness in horses. Not every animal vet is equipped to offer horse care, so horse owners need to find an experienced equine veterinarian at a clinic like ours. Horse owners need to know which emergency vets can see horses for sudden injuries or conditions such as lameness.

Causes of Lameness

Lameness is a general term that describes any change in a horse's gait. There are a variety of issues that contribute to lameness, including:

• Tendon or ligament damage
• Neurological conditions
• Laminitis
• Infection
• Circulatory system diseases
• Hoof bruises
• Fractures
• Degenerative joint diseases

The most common cause of lameness is pain in the muscles, tendons, joints, and other parts of the musculoskeletal system. A horse may adjust its gait to minimize pain.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Lameness in Horses

To diagnose lameness, our veterinarian will first perform a physical exam. Our vet will also perform a flexion test by flexing your horse's joints. After confirming your horse is suffering from lameness, we may administer an anesthetic to further assess your horse’s range of motion. This helps to identify the source of your horse’s pain and immobility. Imaging tests may also be conducted to confirm our diagnosis.

This information helps us form a treatment plan. Because so many conditions can cause lameness, there are many treatment options to consider. Medication will relieve inflammation or infection that is causing your horse’s pain. Surgery may correct the cause of pain, while rest and rehabilitation will also help your pet recover.

Contact Our Animal Vet for Horse Care in Pagosa and Durango

If you believe your horse is experiencing lameness, the horse care professionals at Centennial Equine Sports Medicine are ready to assist you. Call us today at (970) 731-4100 for more information or to schedule an appointment with our emergency vet.