Horse Lameness Exam

Question 1

What are gait changes associated with equine forelimb lameness

Answer 1

1) Headmovement: up from neutral

2) Propping the shoulder

3) Body rolls away from the lame leg

4) Reduced cranial or caudal phase of stride

5) Reduced fetlock excursion on the lame leg

Question 2

With equine forelimb lameness, the head moves

Answer 2

up from neutral when the lame leg hits the ground

Question 3

Head movement in the horse is only reliable in the

Answer 3

trot, pace, and gait

-NOT the walk

Question 4

In hindlimb lameness, the head will

Answer 4

move down from neutral when the lame leg hits the ground

Question 5

T/F: the amount the head moves is proportional to the degree of lameness

Answer 5

True- less severe lameness the less the amount of head movement

the more severe, the more amount of head movement

Question 6

When the ______ leg is on the inside of the circle, it will exacerbate the lameness

Answer 6

lame leg

Question 7

done by the horse to make the leg more rigid as the lame foot hits the ground, reducing the amount of pain perceived by the horse

Answer 7

Propping the shoulder

Question 8

what way for the horse’s body roll when they are lame on the front limb

Answer 8

away from the leg - inconsistent finding and doesnt necessarily correlate

Question 9

What is the most common cause of lameness with a reduced cranial phase of the stride in horses

Answer 9

biceps tendon injuries

Question 10

What kind of gaits do horses with navicular disease have

Answer 10

short stilted gait because both cranial and caudal phase of the stride is reduced.

Reduced caudal phase of stride because the foot hurts when there is pressure on the navicular region as the body moves ove the foot

reduced cranial phase of stride of opposite front leg becaise they need to get the lame leg off the ground

Question 11

What joint on the front limb do horses have reduced excursion on when lame

Answer 11

the fetlock - doesnt necessarily mean that that joint is the cause of lameness

Question 12

T/F: arch of flight changes are considered consistent findings in a lameness exam in horses

Answer 12

False

Question 13

How do you diagnose hind limb lameness in horses

Answer 13

1) Tape over the tuber coxae to make diagnosis easier
2) Increased vertical displacement of the tuber coxae
3) Reduced flexion of the leg- swinging of leg (in or out)
4) Decreased fetlock excursion on lame leg
5) Head moves down from neutral when the lame leg hits the ground

Question 14

What are the 4 signs of hindlimb lameness in horses

Answer 14

1) Increased vertical displacement of the tuber coxae
2) Reduced flexion of the leg- swinging of leg (in or out)
3) Decreased fetlock excursion on lame leg
4) Head moves down from neutral when the lame leg hits the ground

Question 15

What are the different equine lameness scales (AAEP)

Answer 15

0= no lameness

1= inconsistent lameness under specific circumstances only

2= consistent lameness under specific circumstances only

3= consistent lameness at a trop

4= consistent lameness at a walk

5= severe lameness

Question 16

Name the lameness grade:
no identifiable lameness
weight bearing at all times

Answer 16

0- no lameness

Question 17

Name the lameness grade:
always non-weight bearing/toe touching

Answer 17

5- non-weight bearing

Question 18

Name the lameness grade:
clearly detactable lameness associated with obvious head movement/pelvic tilt
occassionally non-weight bearing and toe touching

Answer 18

4: severe

Question 19

Name the lameness grade:
clearly detectable lameness associaed with obvious head movement/ pelvic tilt
weight bearing at all times

Answer 19

3: moderate

Question 20

Name the lameness grade:
clearly detectable lameness associated with minor head movement / pelvic tilt
weigh bearing at all time

Answer 20

2: mild

Question 21

Horses with hind limb lameness may be unwilling to ____ the leg

Answer 21

flex

Question 22

What do you see when horses have hind limb lameness and are reluctant to bear full weight on leg

Answer 22

decreased vertical displacement of the fletlock

Question 23

T/F: In horses with hind limb lameness , reduced cranial or caudal phase of stride is a consistent finding

Answer 23

False

Question 24

If the animal is lame on the left forelimb, what is the head doing when the left forelimb hits the ground?

Answer 24

It rises up from neutral

Question 25

If the animal is lame on the right hindlimb, what is the hip/tuber coxae position when the right hindlimb hits the ground?

Answer 25

it rises up from neutral

Question 26

If the animal is lame on the left hindlimb at a trot, what is the head doing when the left hindlimb hits the ground?

Answer 26

It drops from neutral

Question 27

Gaiting an animal under different circumstances can make a lameness more detectable. If an animal is right forelimb lame, which of the following may exacerbate the lameness? (select all that apply)

Answer 27

Descending a hill
Circling to the right
Jumping down

Question 28

correct description for a trotting gait?

Answer 28

two beat, diagonal gait with a suspension phase