Lameness Examination

When it comes to everything else, being lame means to be uncool. When you are talking about horses, lameness has been defined as any alteration of the horse’s gait. In addition, lameness is sometimes described as a change in attitude or performance. These abnormalities can be caused by pain in the neck, withers, shoulders, back, loin, hips, legs or feet. Identifying the source of the problem is essential to the proper treatment of the horse. A complete lameness examination helps to differentiate among the many types of problems in the horse. Lameness due to pain is most common in the horse.

When your horse is having a lameness examination, our vet will be doing more than just trotting the horse down a straightaway. The lameness exam is a multi-step methodical veterinary exam wherein a veterinarian tries to determine which limb (or limbs) is lame and where specifically the pain in the limb originates. Only by finding the pain site and anatomy involved, and somehow alleviating the pain, can lameness be properly and directly treated. This is also the only way that a prognosis and management plan can be provided. Some of these tests may not look super involved but can tell us a lot of information about what is ailing your horse.

Generally, lameness exams consist of (1) a careful history, (2) a standing exam, (3) an exam in movement (mostly at the trot if possible) (4) flexion and hoof tester exams, (5) diagnostic anesthesia – nerve blocks, and (6) imaging the site of injury – radiographs, ultrasound, MRI and others. The diagnosis treatment plan and prognosis are derived from a synthesis of findings from all of the above parts of the lameness exam.