Equine musculoskeletal Flashcards
Exertional Rhabdomyolysis in horses is
AKA “Tying up”, “Monday Morning Disease”
Muscle cramps after intense exercise
Breakdown of muscle tissue
Myoglobinuria –> pigment nephropathy
Mistaken for colic
Recumbent, reluctant to move, sweating, distressed
Emergency!
Can go into kidney failure quite quickly
Exertional Rhabdomyolysis in horses treatment
Diuresis
Lots of fluids as well
Sling
General nursing care
Clostridial Myositis in horses is
”Gas Gangrene”
Infection with gas- producing Clostridial spp.– anaerobic bacteria
Injection with irritating substance
Ex. Flunixin meglumine
Sudden onset profound lameness
Crepitus-subcutaneous emphysema
Clostridial Myositis in horses treatment
Treatment
Fasciotomy
High doses penicillin
Emergency
Lameness in horses is
An alteration in gait
Not always driven by pain
Affects most horses at some point in their life
Many different causes
Lameness Exam-Vt great at handling horses is very important
A strong 4/5 or 5/5 is an emergency
Hoof abscess
Septic joint
Fracture
Initial evaluation of lameness in horses
Walk on the straight, hard surface, turn away from self
Walk on the straight, hard surface, turn toward self
Trot on the straight, hard surface, turn away from self
Trot on the straight, hard surface, turn toward self
Trot on the circle, hard surface, to the left
Trot on the circle, hard surface, to the right
Trot on the circle, soft surface, to the left
Trot on the circle, soft surface, to the right
How to act when doing a lameness exam in horses
Walk in a straight line looking ahead
Walk like you’re going somewhere!
Don’t look at the horse!
Have a loose line
Too short and horse can’t move it’s head freely
Too long and the horse can trip on the line, get away or not trot straight
Flexions in lameness equine exams
Exacerbate lameness to localize
Proximal and distal limb
Hindlimb and forelimb
Stand on the same side as the person flexing
Return to the left side before trotting off
Will walk stiffly for 3-4 steps then go back to normal
Have to keep in mind age and physical activity
Hoof testes in horses are
Most lameness occurs in front feet.
Hoof testers help vet apply localized pressure to areas of the hoof.
Test all feet as a comparison of horse’s reaction
Common blocks for equine feet
Nerve Block
Anesthetizes the limb distal to the block
Clean prep
Common Blocks
Palmar/Plantar Digital (PD)
Abaxial
Low four- point
Regional anesthesia is common and done by in equine
Joint Block
Anesthetizes within the joint capsule
Aseptic prep
Common Blocks
Fetlock
Carpus
Hock
Stifle
Degenerative joint disease is caused by what in equine
Common
Physically demanding work
Poor confirmation
Commonly affected joints with osteoarthritis in equines
Tarsometatarsal(TMT) joint
Distal intertarsal (DIT) joint
Carpal joints
Pastern joint (high ring bone)
Coffin joint (low ring bone)
Treatment for osteoarthritis in equines
Intra-articular injections
Steroids,
joint “lubricants” e.g. Hyaluronic acid, PSGAGs
Systemic NSAIDS
e.g.Prevequine®, phenylbutazone
Surgery–arthrodesis
Weight management
Mobility exercise
Nutritional Supplements
Omega-3 FA
Caudal heel pain in horses is
Used to be called navicular disease
Progressive degenerative condition of the podotrochlear apparatus of the forelimbs
Middle aged horses in their prime
Long toe–low heel conformation
Symptoms resolve with PD nerve block
Radiographs, MRI
Most commonly affected areas of caudal heel pain in horses
Podotrochlear apparatus
Navicular bone
Collateral sesamoid ligaments
Impar ligament
Navicular bursa
Digital cushion
Collateral distal interphalangeal ligaments
Treatment of caudal heel pain in horses
Corrective trimming and shoeing
Intra-articular treatment:
Steroids
Lubricants
Surgery
NSAIDs po
Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD) in equines is
Incomplete endochondral ossification during fetal and neonate development
May result in cartilage fragments loose in joint– “joint mouse”
Genetic component
Overweight during growth
Present with “boggy hocks” most commonly
Not always lame
Treatment of OCD in horses
Surgery
Benign neglect
Laminitis in equine is
Inflammation of the laminae of the hoof
Common condition
Very difficult to reverse
Emergency!
Acute and chronic presentations
Causes of laminitis in equines
Metabolic
Injury
Endotoxemia
Extremely painful
Cushing’s Disease
Equine Metabolic Syndrome
Equine metabolic syndrome signs
Obese with regional adiposity
Cresty neck
Fat depositis
Inappropriate insulin regulation
Predisposed to laminitis
Signs of Laminitis in horses
Reluctant to stand or walk
Mistaken for colic
Leaning back stance
Chronic cases of Laminitis in equine looks look and is treated by
Rings on hoof wall
Elf-shoe hooves
Rotation of P3 through sole
Treatment
NSAIDS
Corrective trimming and shoeing
