Diagnosis & Treatment for Equine Leg Injuries

Equine leg injuries are a major reason for temporary or permanent loss of use of the animal. For this reason, prompt and accurate diagnosis and treatment are important to achieving the best possible long-term outcome. Fortunately, modern veterinary medicine offers an array of advanced techniques for discovering the cause of equine lameness and treating the problem. Always consult an experienced veterinarian regarding the health and treatment of your pet.

  1. Diagnosis

    • Your veterinarian will approach the diagnosis of a leg injury by palpating the affected limb to detect obvious problems, and by watching the horse move to determine the degree of lameness, if any. She also may employ hoof testers, flexion tests or chemical nerve blocks to localize the site of the pain. If the cause of the problem still is not apparent, she may suggest more advanced imaging techniques, including radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear scintigraphy or ultrasound.

    Treatment

    • Treatment of acute leg injuries in horses focuses first on reducing and minimizing inflammation at the injury site. Effective options include cold-hosing or ice packs applied soon after the injury occurs, along with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that inhibit the inflammatory process within the horse's body. A slightly more invasive and aggressive approach used in cases of joint damage involves injecting a hyaluronic acid solution into the affected joint to lubricate it and protect it from the body's own immune response.

    Rehabilitation

    • Long-term rehabilitation of an equine leg injury varies depending on the cause of the problem and should be undertaken under the supervision of your vet. In general, it starts with passive flexion of the joints and non-weight bearing exercise, such as swimming, where possible, before progressing to controlled weight bearing exercise, like hand-walking. Though there is little research into their effectiveness, some veterinarians use other modalities, including electrostimulation, therapeutic ultrasound and soft lasers during rehabilitation.

    Pain Management

    • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs given during the acute stage of injury have the added benefit of reducing the horse's pain levels. While, in some cases, such drugs may be administered long term, there are potential side effects. According to C. Wayne McIlwraith of the Equine Orthopedic Research Center of Colorado State University, when chronic damage to the joint exists, the injection of polysulfated glycosaminoglycan has been shown to slow further degeneration, and some studies have shown that oral administration is effective for pain reduction. Corticosteroids also may be effective for pain control, but tend to have side effects.