Lameness in horses is a condition characterized by an abnormal gait or stance due to pain or mechanical dysfunction affecting the limbs or spine. It is a common issue in equine practice and can result from a variety of causes, including injury, infection, or degenerative diseases. Lameness can affect a horse's performance and quality of life, making accurate diagnosis and management important for equine health. Diagnostic techniques often include physical examination, imaging, and gait analysis. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the etiology, diagnostic methods, and management strategies for lameness in horses.
Ysebaert MP, Johnson JP, Abbas G, Cavalcante PH, King R, Oikawa M, Puchalski S, David F.To report the diagnostics, surgical treatment, and outcome of a juvenile foal with solitary osteochondroma (SO) interfering with the podotrochlear apparatus. Methods: Case report ANIMAL: One 36-day-old Arabian colt. Methods: Clinical, radiographic, ultrasonographic, computed tomographic, and histopathologic examinations were required to characterize and treat an SO located at the palmar aspect of the diaphysis of the second phalanx of the left forelimb. This SO caused severe distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) inflammation, marked interference with the podotrochlear apparatus, and associated l...
Saadi A, Dalir-Naghadeh B, Akbari H, Rashedi M, Mohammadi R.An 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding used for jumping was evaluated for gait abnormalities and hoof problems in the hindlimbs. Clinical examinations revealed signs consistent with shivers. A thyroid gland enlargement was noticed, baseline serum thyroid hormone (TH) concentrations were low, and a low response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone administration was observed. Hypothyroidism was suspected. The horse was treated with levothyroxine for 1 year. TH concentrations returned to the normal range by week 4 of treatment. Thirty weeks after the initiation of levothyroxine therapy, the gait abnormal...
Pradella GD, Taschetto PM, Duarte CA, da Silva Azevedo M, Góss GC.Adverse drug reactions in horses are rare. The antimicrobials are in the list of the most common drugs associated with reaction in horses. The aim of this report is to describe the clinical presentation of an adverse drug reaction after the intramuscular administration of ceftiofur hydrochloride. A 5-year-old crioulo broodmare at one day postpartum presented signs of difficulty to walk, positive pulse in the four limbs, and heart rate of 80 beats per minute (bpm), with a history of fighting with another mare. The clinical suspicions were rhabdomyolysis and laminitis. Initially a dose of flunix...
Haythorn A, Young M, Stanton J, Zhang J, Mueller POE, Halper J.Equine degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis (DSLD) is a systemic connective tissue disorder first identified in Peruvian Paso horses but afflicting other horse breeds as well. Inappropriate accumulation of proteoglycans in connective tissues, most prominently in tendons and ligaments, leads to progressive and debilitating lameness and pain. It is largely unknown what drives the overproduction of proteoglycans, but our previous studies suggest involvement of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), a member of the transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) family, impacting synthesis of proteoglyca...
Rinnovati R, Xenos S, Beltrame A, Marigo A, Forni G, Morini M.A neurofibroma was excised from the subcutis on the medial side of the left thigh of a 15-year-old Warmblood gelding, which had shown lameness of the left hind limb. No other source of lameness was found. Two weeks after surgery, the horse was sound at a lameness examination.
Al Naem M, Litzke LF, Geburek F, Failing K, Hoffmann J, Röcken M.In a laminitic horse, the maximal loading of the toe region occurs during the breakover phase. To date, no kinetic data demonstrates the effect of supportive orthopaedic therapy in horses with laminitis on breakover phase. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of heel elevation on the breakover phase. Eight horses with acute laminitis treated medically as well as with application of a hoof cast with heel wedge (HCHW) were included in this study. Immediately following cessation of clinical signs of acute laminitis, two measurements using the Hoof™ System were taken: the fi...
Rahnama S, Vathsangam N, Spence R, Medina-Torres CE, Pollitt CC, de Laat MA, Bailey SR, Sillence MN.Currently, there are no registered veterinary drugs for the treatment of endocrinopathic equine laminitis, and although this form of the disease is known to be caused by prolonged hyperinsulinaemia, the mechanism of insulin toxicity is unclear. One possibility is that high concentrations of insulin activate IGF-1 receptors (IGF-1R) in lamellar tissue, leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation and epidermal lamellar dysregulation. An equinized version of a human anti-IGF-1R therapeutic monoclonal antibody (mAb11) was generated to test this theory, using a modification of the prolonged euglycae...
Walker L, Martinelli MJ, Rantanen N, Drumond B, Trostle S.Nuclear scintigraphy can be beneficial in the investigation of equine lameness and poor performance. Images obtained through the sole allow for better identification of a region of increased radionuclide uptake in the foot. The presence of shoes or pads may affect these images. To determine the degree of radioactive attenuation different types of shoes and pads of different thickness and materials were evaluated by placing the material directly on the gamma camera detector acquiring flood images from a point source. The study compared five different types of shoes from 3 different shoeing mate...
Serra Bragança FM, Hernlund E, Thomsen MH, Waldern NM, Rhodin M, Byström A, van Weeren PR, Weishaupt MA.There is a paucity of research describing the gait pattern of lame horses at the walk. Objective: To describe the changes in motion pattern and vertical ground reaction forces (GRFz) in horses with induced forelimb lameness at the walk and compare those changes with the changes observed at the trot. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: In 10 clinically sound Warmblood horses, moderate forelimb lameness was induced using a sole pressure model followed by trot and walk on a treadmill. Kinematic data were collected using 3D optical motion capture (OMC), and GRFz by an instrumented treadmill. Mix...
Santschi EM, Juzwiak JS, Honnas C, Walker WT, Hunter B, Whitman JL, Prichard MA, Morehead JP.The objective of this study is to describe the management and outcomes of eight horses with subchondral lucencies (SCLs) of the medial aspect of the antebrachiocarpal (ABC) joint. The medical records and radiographs of the carpi of 8 horses with SCLs of the medial aspect of the ABC joint were reviewed. Follow-up clinical information was obtained for 6-60 months (the median duration of 14 months). Treatment was successful if radiographic healing was apparent or lameness was reduced or eliminated. Four horses had SCLs in the distomedial radius (DMR) and four in the proximal aspect of the radio...
Murray RC, Tranquille CA, Walker VA, Milmine RC, Bak L, Tacey JB, Bolas NM.Standing magnetic resonance (MR) images of proximal metacarpal/metatarsal regions are increasingly being acquired. This study aimed at describing ranges of abnormalities detected in sport/racehorses, using retrospective evaluation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reports from horses with lameness isolated to proximal metacarpal/metatarsal regions with images acquired standing. It was hypothesized that MRI features are different between metacarpal and metatarsal regions and between horses doing different sports. Reports from 359 forelimbs and 64 hindlimbs were included. Palmar/plantar metaca...
Olusa TAO, Akbar Z, Murray CM, Davies HMS.Despite many reported cases of carpal lameness associated with intercarpal ligament injuries in horses, the morphometry, movement pattern and general intrinsic biomechanics of the carpus are largely unknown. Using osteoligamentous preparation of the carpus prepared from 14 equine cadaver forelimbs (aged 9.62 ± 4.25 years), locomotory simulations of flexion and extension movements of the carpal joint were carried out to observed carpal biomechanics and, thereafter, the limbs were further dissected to obtain morphometric measurements of the medial and lateral collateral ligaments (MLC and LC...
O'Brien C, Marr N, Thorpe C.The forelimb superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is an energy-storing tendon that is highly susceptible to injury during activities such as galloping and jumping, such that it is one of the most commonly reported causes of lameness in the performance horse. This review outlines the biomechanical and biothermal effects of strain on the SDFT and how these contribute to the accumulation of microdamage. The effect of age-related alterations on strain response and subsequent injury risk is also considered. Given that tendon is a slowly healing and poorly regenerative tissue, prompt detection o...
Gugliandolo E, Barbagallo A, Peritore AF, Cuzzocrea S, Crupi R.Background: Four show jumping horses were evaluated for non-responsive lameness, which caused their withdrawal from show jumping competitions. The clinical evaluation was performed by radiographic examination, flexion tests, diagnostic anesthesia and lameness evaluation using the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) scale. The diagnoses were a case of navicular syndrome, a complicated case of chronic navicular syndrome and arthrosis of the distal interphalangeal joint of the right anterior limb and two cases of distal intertarsal joint arthritis. Nutraceuticals are often an impo...
Golonka P, Kornicka-Garbowska K, Marycz K.Stem cell based therapy are now commonly applied in human and veterinary medical practice especially in orthopaedics. Mesenchymal stromal stem cells isolated from adipose tissue (ASC) are first choice option due to relatively non-invasive and safe procedure of tissue harvesting. However, ASC therapeutic potential strongly rely on patients general health condition, age and life-style. For that reason, to enhance therapeutic potential of cells, they are modified in vitro using different approaches. Previous studies have shown, that ASC treated with resveratrol, herein called SIRT+, are character...
Berner D, Mader D, Groß C, Gerlach K.In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations, moderate to severe changes of the distal sesamoidean impar ligament (DSIL) were found in horses with lameness localized to their feet. Histologic abnormalities were detected more commonly in lame horses. Because of its heterogeneity and small thickness, evaluation of the DSIL in MRI can be challenging. The aim of the study was to determine the optimal sequence and the ideal transverse perpendicular angle for visualization of the DSIL before and after arthrography of the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ). Twenty-five cadaver forelimbs were exa...
Schenzel S, Rohde C, Fugazzola MC.A three-week-old warmblood colt was referred for a two-week history of lameness on the left thoracic limb, and a two-month-old Quarter Horse-mix filly was referred for malaligned pelvic limbs since birth. The foals were diagnosed with agenesis and dysgenesis of the navicular bone, respectively. In this report, we present clinical signs, diagnostics, and postmortem workup of the two cases.
Mageed M, Elfadl A.An 18-year-old Quarter Horse mare was evaluated because of moderate left forelimb lameness of 4 weeks' duration. The clinical evaluation and diagnostic perineural analgesia localized the lameness to the distal portion of the left forelimb. There was swelling on the dorsal and lateral aspect of the coronary band. Radiography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography of the foot revealed circumscribed well-capsulated soft tissue mass causing a focal deformation of the dorsolateral border of the middle phalanx. The treatment aimed to remove the mass surgically and stabiliz...
Faramarzi B, Hung F, Dong F.Variations in hoof conformation may alter stress distribution, thus predisposing horses to pathologies and lameness; however, experimental studies are scarce. Our objective was to investigate the correlation between midstance hoof kinetics at the walk and hoof conformation in horses. Nine clinically sound, unshod horses were walked over a pressure plate, and force (F), contact area (CA), contact pressure (CP), and peak contact pressure (PCP) were recorded at the dorsal, palmar, medial, and lateral regions, as well as for the whole hoof. By using digital radiography and digital pictures, 55 var...
Malacarne BD, Cota LO, Neto ACP, Paz CFR, Dias LA, Corrêa MG, Carvalho AM, Faleiros RR, Xavier ABS.With the hypothesis that equine dorsal lamellar tissue can be desensitized by anesthesia injection into distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ), the objective was to assess the mechanical nociceptive threshold of hoof dorsal lamellae following intra-articular (IA) administration of lidocaine into this joint. Methods: The DIPJ of the forelimbs of six adult healthy horses were injected with either 5 mL of lidocaine, or 5 mL of lactated Ringer's solution. Treatments were randomly distributed, with each forelimb undergoing a single treatment. The hooves were evaluated pre- and post-injection at pre-se...
Grady SE, Lescun TB, Moore GE, Cooper BR, Davern AJ, Brunner TJ, Taylor SD.The objective was to compare the analgesic efficacy of ketorolac tromethamine (KT) and two other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including flunixin meglumine (FM) and phenylbutazone (PB), using a heart bar shoe (HBS) model of reversible foot lameness in horses. Nine adult horses were used in a blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study. After induction of left front limb lameness using a modified HBS model, one of three NSAIDs (KT, 2.0 mg/kg IV; FM, 1.1 mg/kg IV; PB, 4.4 mg/kg IV) or saline (placebo) was administered IV as a single dose. Lameness was assessed eve...
Sullivan SN, Altmann NN, Brokken MT, Durgam SS.Primary deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) pathologies and those accompanying degenerative changes of navicular bone fibrocartilage are major causes of lameness associated with navicular disease. Intrasynovial corticosteroids are mainstay in the treatment due to the anti-inflammatory effects, but their effect on DDFT cell biosynthesis are unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) on cells isolated from the dorsal fibrocartilaginous region of forelimb DDFTs (DDFT-derived cells) of 5 horses (aged 11-17 years). Non-adherent aggregate c...
Ellis L.A 19-year-old appendix mare was presented with severe, acute right forelimb lameness and a history of significant hoof wall defect. The defect began as progressive toe separation affecting the dorsal hoof wall, which was eventually resected by a farrier. Placement of bar shoes by a farrier to stabilize the hoof was ineffective. Radiographs showed hoof wall separation, palmar rotation, and displacement of the coffin bone, consistent with failure of the laminar structures. Treatment included phenylbutazone, radiographic-guided therapeutic farriery consisting of derotation with a wedge shoe, and ...
Zielińska P, Nicpoń J, Kiełbowicz Z, Soroko M, Dudek K, Zaborski D.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of high intensity laser therapy (HILT) on tendon and ligament injury treatment in horses. Twenty six horses with tendinopathies were randomly assigned to a HILT treated or to a non-treated group. Each horse was subjected to the same rehabilitation programme. Horses from the treatment group underwent a series of fifteen HILT treatments with the same parameters. Clinical and ultrasound assessments were performed by the same veterinarian and were carried out before (day 0), during (day 13-15) and after treatment (day 38-40). Clinical evaluation in...
Bowden A, Boynova P, Brennan ML, England GCW, Mair TS, Furness WA, Freeman SL, Burford JH.The study aim was to describe conditions seen 'out-of-hours' in equine practice. This was a retrospective case series of first opinion 'out-of-hours' cases seen at two equine practices between 2011 and 2013. Data were retrieved on case presentation, diagnostic testing, treatment administered and outcome, and diseases categorised using a systems-based coding system. A hierarchical logistic regression, formulated using a generalised linear model, was used to identify clinical variables associated with a binary outcome of 'critical' cases (required hospitalisation or euthanasia or died). Data fro...
de Preux M, Klopfenstein Bregger MD, Brünisholz HP, Van der Vekens E, Schweizer-Gorgas D, Koch C.To describe clinical applications of computer-assisted orthopedic surgery (CAOS) in horses with a navigation system coupled with a cone beam computed tomography unit. Methods: Retrospective clinical case series. Methods: Thirteen adult horses surgically treated with CAOS. Methods: Medical records were searched for horses that underwent CAOS between 2016 and 2019. Data retrieved included signalment, diagnosis, lameness grade prior to surgery, surgical technique and complications, anesthesia and surgery time, and information pertaining to the perioperative case management and outcome. Results: I...
Henderson B, Bramlage LR, Koenig J, Monteith G.To assess the influence of humeral stress fracture location on the time to return to racing and postinjury performance of thoroughbred racehorses. Methods: Retrospective study (1992-2015). Methods: Thoroughbred racehorses (n = 131) that presented for lameness with the sole diagnosis of humeral stress fractures in the lame limb, as determined by scintigraphy or radiology. Methods: Sex, fracture site, age, starts, earnings, and average earnings per race were examined for differences in pre-stress and post-stress fracture diagnosis for the entire population as well as individual stress fracture l...
Galantino-Homer H, Brooks SA.Laminitis is a devastating disease with diverse etiologies and few, if any, effective treatments. Gene expression and hypothesis-generating genomic studies have provided a fresh look at the key molecular players at crucial timepoints in diverse experimental and naturally affected tissues. We summarize findings to date, and propose a unifying model of the laminitis disease process that includes several pathogenesis concepts shared with other diseases of epidermal and epithelial tissues. The value of these new pathways as potential therapeutic targets is exciting but will require careful future ...
Kallerud AS, Fjordbakk CT, Hendrickson EHS, Persson-Sjodin E, Hammarberg M, Rhodin M, Hernlund E.Lameness evaluation of Standardbred trotters can be challenging due to discrepancies in observed movement asymmetry between in-hand and track exercise, and between different trotting speeds. There are few studies on objective measurement of movement in Standardbreds, and little knowledge regarding biological variation and clinical significance of measured movement asymmetry in this breed. Objective: To quantify the prevalence and magnitude of objectively measured movement asymmetry in young Standardbred trotters, and identify associations with trainer, sex, height, track type and in-hand measu...
Hunt RJ, Wharton RE.Chronic laminitis involves laminar morphologic changes resulting in digital collapse and can vary greatly in its clinical manifestation depending on duration, severity of lameness, and stability of the distal phalanx/hoof wall interface. Accurate assessment of the whole patient is mandatory and consideration must be given to signalment, occupation, and owner expectations, as well as history and etiology, which often predict the broad course of the disease. Diagnosis is made via physical examination with adjunctive serial radiographic evaluation and possibly venography. Eventual functionality o...
Weishaupt MA, Wiestner T, Hogg HP, Jordan P, Auer JA, Barrey E.The purpose of this study was to verify the sensitivity of 2 gait analysis methods in detecting subtle lameness and to compare the results to the traditional orthopaedic evaluation. Twenty-two horses were evaluated (1) subjectively by 3 different experienced clinicians and (2) objectively with synchronised ground reaction force and accelerometric gait measurements on a treadmill. The horses were assigned for each of the 3 methods independently to one of 3 groups (GR): sound, lameness front limb, lameness hindlimb. Additionally, for each horse, the affected limb (AL) and degree of lameness (DL)...
Hood DM, Wagner IP, Taylor DD, Brumbaugh GW, Chaffin MK.To compare limb-load distribution between horses with and without acute or chronic laminitis. Methods: 10 horses with carbohydrate-induced acute laminitis, 20 horses with naturally occurring chronic laminitis, and 20 horses without foot abnormalities (controls). Methods: Limb-load distribution was determined, using a custom-designed system that allowed simultaneous quantification of the mean percentage of body weight voluntarily placed on each limb (ie, mean limb load) and the SD of the mean load over a 5-minute period (ie, load distribution profile [LDP]). Load distribution profile was used a...
McGowan CM, Ireland JL.Duration of ownership strengthens the human-horse bond, affecting decision-making about the horse's welfare, quality of life (QoL), and euthanasia. Most owners consider their geriatric horses to have good or excellent QoL; however, increasing age is negatively associated with QoL. Management factors are important. The most common reasons for euthanasia include musculoskeletal disorders or lameness, colic, and nonspecific chronic diseases. The decision to euthanize is difficult, so the advice of the veterinarian and QoL are important. This article focuses on the human-horse bond, assessment of ...
Murray RC, Tranquille CA, Walker VA, Milmine RC, Bak L, Tacey JB, Bolas NM.Standing magnetic resonance (MR) images of proximal metacarpal/metatarsal regions are increasingly being acquired. This study aimed at describing ranges of abnormalities detected in sport/racehorses, using retrospective evaluation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reports from horses with lameness isolated to proximal metacarpal/metatarsal regions with images acquired standing. It was hypothesized that MRI features are different between metacarpal and metatarsal regions and between horses doing different sports. Reports from 359 forelimbs and 64 hindlimbs were included. Palmar/plantar metaca...
Broeckx SY, Pille F, Buntinx S, Van Brantegem L, Duchateau L, Oosterlinck M, Chiers K, Bertone AL, Spaas JH, Martens AM.OBJECTIVE To evaluate lameness and morphological changes associated with an osteochondral fragment-groove procedure as a means of experimental induction of metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint osteoarthritis within an 11-week period in horses. ANIMALS 6 nonlame adult warmbloods. PROCEDURES The right MCP joint of each horse underwent an osteochondral fragment-groove procedure (day 0). After 1 week of stall rest (ie, starting day 7), each horse was trained daily on a treadmill. Weekly, horses underwent visual and inertial sensor-based assessments of lameness. Both MCP joints were assessed radiographi...
Hobbs SJ, Nauwelaerts S, Sinclair J, Clayton HM, Back W.Asymmetry in forelimb dorsal hoof wall angles, termed unevenness, is associated with forelimb gait asymmetries, but compensatory mechanisms and out of plane ground reaction forces (GRFs) due to unevenness have yet to be documented. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the effects of fore hoof unevenness on contralateral fore and hind limb force vectors patterns, in both sagittal and frontal planes. A group of n = 34 riding horses were classified into four groups: hoof angle difference of more than 1.5 degrees (UNEVEN; n = 27), including higher left fore (HIGH-LF; n = 12), higher ...
Baskerville CL, Chockalingham S, Harris PA, Bailey SR.In horses and ponies, insulin dysregulation leading to hyperinsulinemia may be associated with increased risk of laminitis, and prolonged infusion of insulin can induce the condition. It is unclear whether insulin may have a direct or indirect effect on the lamellar tissues. Insulin is structurally related to insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), and can bind the IGF-1 receptor, albeit at a lower affinity than IGF-1. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was performed on formalin-fixed lamellar tissue sections from six normal horses, euthanised for non-research purposes, using an anti-IGF-1 receptor ant...
Fiske-Jackson AR, Barker WH, Eliashar E, Foy K, Smith RK.The sensitivity of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of manica flexoria (MF) tears within the digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) is lower than for diagnosis of marginal tears of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT). Additional diagnostic tools would assist in appropriate decision making for either conservative or surgical management. Objective: To evaluate the improvement in lameness of horses with MF or DDFT tears following intrathecal analgesia and to assess the sensitivity and specificity of contrast radiography for the diagnosis of these tears. Methods: The case records of horses present...
Williams GE, Silverman BW, Wilson AM, Goodship AE.To assess the force plate as a diagnostic aid in equine locomotor abnormalities, particularly for abnormalities such as navicular disease that do not have specific diagnostic criteria. Methods: 17 Thoroughbreds without observable locomotor abnormalities (group A), 6 Thoroughbreds with superficial digital flexor tendon injury (group B), and 8 Thoroughbreds with navicular disease (group C). Methods: Using a force plate, ground reaction force patterns were recorded at the trot. Peak limb vertical force and force/time curve parameters were derived from 4 identifiable points at the beginning and en...
Pollitt CC, Pass MA, Pollitt S.A method for culturing explants of lamellar hoof was developed to investigate the process of lamellar separation that occurs in laminitis. Explants, consisting of hoof wall, dermal and epidermal lamellae and the adjacent sub-lamellar connective tissue remained intact when cultured in tissue culture medium for 2 days. However, when cultured in the presence of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activator aminophenylmercuric acetate (APMA), the lamellae separated when tension was applied by pulling the hoof wall in an opposite direction to the connective tissue. The separation occurred between th...
Brokken MT, Schneider RK, Sampson SN, Tucker RL, Gavin PR, Ho CP.Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging abnormalities in horses with lameness localized to the proximal metacarpal or metatarsal region have not been described. To accomplish that, the medical records of 45 horses evaluated with MR imaging that had lameness localized to either the proximal metacarpal or metatarsal region were reviewed. Abnormalities observed in the proximal suspensory ligament or the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon included abnormal high signal, enlargement, or alteration in shape. Twenty-three horses had proximal suspensory ligament desmitis (13 hindlimb, 10 fore...
Ellis KL, King MR.Postural stability maintains balance, protects the spinal column, and allows accurate responses to destabilizing forces. The musculus multifidus (m. multifidus) is the major postural muscle located adjacent to the vertebrae along the length of the spinal column. Increased cross-sectional area (CSA) of the m. multifidus has been demonstrated in horses after a rehabilitation strengthening exercise program; however, correlation with functional postural stability has not been shown. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the relationship of the thoracolumbar m. multifidus CSA and measur...
The Journal of nutritionJune 15, 2006
Volume 136, Issue 7 Suppl 2114S-2121S doi: 10.1093/jn/136.7.2114S
Harris P, Bailey SR, Elliott J, Longland A.Laminitis occurs throughout the world in horses and ponies and has major welfare implications. It is obviously important to be able to recognize and treat the condition in its early stages so that pain and suffering are kept to a minimum. However, ideally it would be preferred to be able to recommend certain interventions/countermeasures that avoid or prevent the condition from occurring in the first place. Because pasture-associated laminitis occurs with grass consumption, one obvious way to avoid the condition is to prevent access to pasture and to feed forage alternatives that are known to ...
Sherlock CE, Mair TS, Ter Braake F.We report the use of low-field standing magnetic resonance imaging in the standing horse for the diagnosis of osseous lesions in the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) or metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint that were not apparent using standard radiography. Thirteen horses were studied and all had thickening of the subchondral bone plate and abnormal signal intensity in the adjacent spongiosa in either the condyles of metacarpal/metatarsal III or the proximal phalanx or both. Abnormalities were characterized by diffuse decreased signal intensity on T1-weighting adjacent to the subchondral bone and within t...
Colles CM, Hickman J.Macroscopic, microscopic and radiological examinations of the navicular bones of 83 horses and ponies showed that the navicular bone in the adult horse has 2 principal routes of blood supply. One supply is present at birth, the other develops within the first 2 to 3 years of life, in response to increasing activity. The size of the nutrient foramina, as seen on radiographs, is related to the type, frequency and regularity of work done by the horse. These foramina are normally conical in shape, alteration to a circular, or mushroom-shape being evidence of occlusive vascular disease in the navic...
Wylie CE, Collins SN, Verheyen KL, Newton JR.A previous systematic review highlighted a lack of good evidence regarding the frequency of equine laminitis in Great Britain. Objective: To estimate the frequency of veterinary-diagnosed active laminitis in the general horse population of Great Britain and to describe the clinical signs present in cases. Methods: Prospective cohort study. Methods: Data on active episodes of equine laminitis were collected from veterinary practitioners. Results: The prevalence of veterinary-diagnosed active laminitis was 0.47% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.42-0.52%) for the veterinary-attended population and...
Oosterlinck M, Hardeman LC, van der Meij BR, Veraa S, van der Kolk JH, Wijnberg ID, Pille F, Back W.Empirically, equine distal limb lameness is often linked to hoof imbalance. To objectively quantify dynamic toe-heel and medio-lateral hoof balance of the vertical ground reaction force in sound sport horses, seven Royal Dutch Sport Horses were led at the walk and trot over a dynamically calibrated pressure plate. Forelimb hoof prints were divided into a toe and heel region and a medial and lateral zone. Toe-heel and medio-lateral hoof balance of the vertical ground reaction force were calculated throughout the stance. Toe-heel balance was highly symmetrical between contralateral limbs at both...
Steel CM, Hopper BJ, Richardson JL, Alexander GR, Robertson ID.Lameness related to the middle carpal joint (MCJ) occurs in up to 30% of young Standardbred horses in race training and the incidence increase with radiographic severity of third carpal bone (C3) sclerosis on DPr-DDIO (skyline) view of the carpus. Factors predisposing horses to carpal injury have not been well investigated. Objective: To determine the importance of MCJ lameness as a cause of wastage in young Standardbred racehorses, stage of training at which it occurs and predisposing factors, and to describe clinical findings and diagnosis. Methods: Standardbred horses (n = 114) entering the...
Cole FL, Hodgson DR, Reid SW, Mellor DJ.To establish the prevalence of health disorders reported by horse owners registered with veterinary practices in Australia. Methods: Mailed questionnaire-based study of horse owners in Australia conducted in 2001. Results: Data were obtained for 3901 horses belonging to 621 owners. The most prevalent health disorders were non-laminitic lameness (13.0%), skin disorders (6.1%) and behavioural disorders (4.5%). Prevalence of health disorders varied among different age, breed and sex categories within the study population, and disorders were more prevalent in male and older horses. Conclusions: Th...
Ringer SK, Lischer CJ, Ueltschi G.To monitor the effect of focused extra-corporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on bone and bone-tendon junction of horses without lameness by use of nuclear scintigraphy and thermography. Methods: 6 warmblood horses without lameness. Methods: The origin of the suspensory ligament at the metacarpus (OSL-MC) and the fourth metatarsal bone were treated at 2 time points (days 0 and 16) with 2,000 shocks applied by a focused ESWT device at an energy flux density of 0.15 mJ/mm2. One forelimb and 1 hind limb were treated, and the contralateral limbs served as controls. To document the effect of focused E...
Bryan LK, Hamer SA, Shaw S, Curtis-Robles R, Auckland LD, Hodo CL, Chaffin K, Rech RR.A 10-year-old Quarter Horse gelding presented to the Texas A&M University Veterinary Teaching Hospital with a six month-history of ataxia and lameness in the hind limbs. The horse was treated presumptively for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) based on clinical signs but was ultimately euthanized after its condition worsened. Gross lesions were limited to a small area of reddening in the gray matter of the thoracic spinal cord. Histologically, trypanosome amastigotes morphologically similar to Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease in humans and dogs, were sporadically detec...
Holmes LC, Gaughan EM, Gorondy DA, Hogge S, Spire MF.Infrared thermography is an imaging modality gaining popularity as a diagnostic aid in the evaluation of equine lameness. Anecdotal reports of skin hyperthermia induced by local anesthesia, detected by thermography, have been made; however, no controlled studies have been reported. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of perineural anesthesia on infrared thermographic images of the forelimb digits in normal horses. After environmental acclimation, infrared thermographs were made at intervals of 0, 5, 10, 15, 30, and 45 min from administration of mepivacaine hydrochloride or pho...
Starke SD, May SA, Pfau T.Hind limb lameness detection in horses relies on the identification of movement asymmetry which can be based on multiple pelvic landmarks. This study explains the poorly understood relationship between hind limb lameness pointers, related to the tubera coxae and sacrum, based on experimental data in context of a simple rigid body model. Vertical displacement of tubera coxae and sacrum was quantified experimentally in 107 horses with varying lameness degrees. A geometrical rigid-body model of pelvis movement during lameness was created in Matlab. Several asymmetry measures were calculated and c...
Fairburn AJ, Busschers E, Barr ARS.Suspensory ligament branch (SLB) desmopathy is a common cause of lameness and an important cause of lost training in the Thoroughbred racing industry. Studies have assessed the impact of insertional injuries of the SLB on the careers of flat racehorses and established the prevalence of subclinical ultrasonographic SLB abnormalities in this population, but little work has investigated SLB injury in National Hunt (NH) racehorses. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of subclinical ultrasonographic SLB abnormalities in NH racehorses with no clinical signs or history of SLB injury and to estab...
Daradka M, Pollitt CC.Current theories explaining how the hoof wall 'grows' and moves past the stationary distal phalanx are speculative and based on incomplete evidence. Movement in the lamellar region could occur by cell proliferation or an enzyme-based remodelling process. Since laminitis pathogenesis appears to involve increased transcription and activation of enzymes normally involved in tissue remodelling, it is important to know precisely which process dominates the lamellar region of the hoof.. Objective: To investigate epidermal cell proliferation in the equine hoof wall and calculate a proliferative index...
Marunova E, Hoenecke K, Fiske-Jackson A, Smith RKW, Bolt DM, Perrier M, Gerdes C, Hernlund E, Rhodin M, Pfau T.Evaluation of diagnostic anesthesia during equine lameness examination requires comparison of complex movement patterns and can be influenced by expectation bias. There is limited research about how changes in movement asymmetries after successful analgesia are affected by different exercise conditions. Movement asymmetry of head, withers and pelvis was quantified in N = 31 horses undergoing forelimb or hindlimb diagnostic anesthesia. Evaluation on a straight line and a circle was performed with subjective diagnostic anesthesia outcome and quantitative changes recorded. Mixed linear mode...
Baker ME, Lee S, Clinton M, Hackl M, Castanheira C, Peffers MJ, Taylor SE.Osteoarthritis of the equine distal interphalangeal joint is a common cause of lameness. MicroRNAs from biofluids are promising biomarkers and therapeutic candidates. Synovial fluid samples from horses with mild and severe equine distal interphalangeal joint osteoarthritis were submitted for small RNA sequencing. The results demonstrated that miR-92a was downregulated in equine synovial fluid from horses with severe osteoarthritis and there was a significant increase in COMP, COL1A2, RUNX2 and SOX9 following miR-92a mimic treatment of equine chondrocytes in monolayer culture. This is the first...
Kwon S, Moore JN, Robertson TP, Hurley DJ, Wagner B, Vandenplas ML.Although clinical evidence of endotoxemia has been associated with the development of acute laminitis in hospitalized horses with gastrointestinal diseases and endotoxins have been detected in the circulation of horses with experimentally-induced laminitis, it is unclear what role, if any, endotoxins have play the pathogenesis of the disease. Therefore, in the present study we compared the effects of endotoxin infusion to that of intra-gastric administration of mixed carbohydrate (CHO) on clinical signs of laminitis, plasma concentrations of TNF-α and IL-10, and laminar tissue expression of 2...
Dahlberg JA, McClure SR, Evans RB, Reinertson EL.To measure alterations in lameness severity that occur following use of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in horses with naturally occurring unilateral forelimb lameness. Methods: Nonrandomized clinical trial. Methods: 9 horses with unilateral forelimb lameness. Methods: Force platform gait analysis was performed prior to administration of any treatments (baseline) and after use of local anesthesia to eliminate the lameness. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy was then administered, and gait analysis was repeated 8 hours later and then daily for 7 days. Results: Compared with the baseline...
