Mussculoskeletal conditions and lameness equine Flashcards

1
Q

what are the three classifications of lameness?

A
  1. weight bearing - decrease weight on leg
  2. non weight bearing or swinging leg
  3. complementary or compensatory
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2
Q

lameness workup

A

history very important, General PE, Acute vs chronic, worse with work or rest, use of animal, breed, age

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3
Q

Observe horse at :

A

walk, trot, turning

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4
Q

look for:

A

head bob, hip hike, toe drag, shortened stride.

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5
Q

front leg lameness:

A

watch for a head bob the stride is usually shorter on the affected limb.

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6
Q

hind leg lameness:

A

watch for hip hike - the sound side will go down.

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7
Q

determine the location of pain:

A

palpation, flexion tests, hoof testers, nerve blocks.

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8
Q

diagnostic equiptment:

A

x-ray, ultrasound, MRI, Nuclear Scintigraphy, Thermography.

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9
Q

Nuclear scintigraphy:

A

bone scan- horse is injected with radioactive dye which binds to areas of new bone activity.

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10
Q

Equine tendon Ultrasound:

A

to determine if there is an injury or tear of the tendon.

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11
Q

Arthritis causes:

A

traumatic, bone spavin, ringbone- age related.

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12
Q

common types of arthritis:

A

navicular, DJD, sidebone, ringbone, spavin, knee cap problems, back problems, sacroilliac, clicking joints, splints, windgalls, ocd, accidents.

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13
Q

the joint:

A

the joint capsule is lined by synovium. Site of joint fluid production. The joint fluid and cartilage act as shock absorbers.

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14
Q

Arthritis diagnosis:

A

Radiographs

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15
Q

treatment options for arthritis;

A

Chondro-protectants: polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan PSGAG, Cosequin, Adequan, Glucosamine, MSM, Hyaluronic acid- legend.

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16
Q

oral chondroprotectants:

A

nutraceuticals: glucosamine and chondroitin

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17
Q

NSAID’s

A

phenylbutazone, Ketoprophen, Flunixin meglumine.

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18
Q

Laminitis

A

also known as founder. Inflammation of the laminae
- so soft tissue between the hoof wall and the coffin bone.
- suspend and anchor the coffin bone within the hoof wall.

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19
Q

causes of laminitis:

A

many causes: grain overload, grazing on lush pastures, retained placenta after foaling, gram negative bacterial infections, severe lameness on on leg, concussion.

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20
Q

result of laminitis:

A

result of bacterial toxins targeting the laminae of the hoof

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21
Q

clinical signs of laminitis:

A

sawhorse stance, walking on eggshells, heat around coronary band, very painful on toes when hoof testers applied, increased digital pulse.

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22
Q

Treatment of acute laminitis:

A

analgesics- NSAIDS, mineral oils/ laxatives orally if due to grain, cold packs on feet or cold water hosing, soft straw, sand to decrease concussion of hoof, support sole.

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23
Q

treatment of chronic laminitis:

A

corrective trimming and special shoes.

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24
Q

Prevention of Laminitis:

A

watch intake: grain and lush pastures, very important to treat very early.

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25
Q

Navicular Disease/ Syndrome:

A

very common cause of chronic forelimb lameness in horses. Usually in older horses that have had a lot of forces applied to this area - 6-8 yrs of age. navicular bone allows for correct insertion of deep digital flexor tendon on p3

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26
Q

navicular syndrome may involve:

A

navicular bursitis, tendonitis/ damaged tendon, damaged navicular bone itself

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27
Q

navicular disease cs:

A

chronic, intermittent front foot/feet lameness, may stand pointing toe, land on toes instead of heels when moving, contracted foot.

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28
Q

diagnosis of navicular disease:

A

history, clinical signs, hoof testers, nerve block of heels- eliminates lameness, rads- lollipops and spurs in the navicular bone.

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29
Q

navicular disease treatment:

A

rest, analgesics, corrective trimming and shoeing, vasodilator and aspirin, intraarticular medication, neurectomy

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30
Q

exertional Rhabdomyolysis :

A

also called tying up, black water, azoturia

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31
Q

causative factors rhabdomyolysis:

A

overfeeding of carbohydrates, poor conditioning or fitness with sudden increase of workload. Work of a horse after a period of rest. deficiency in selenium or vit E. Wet, cold, windy weather conditions.

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32
Q

Exertional rhabdomyolysis occurs when?

A

there is an inadequate blood flow to muscles of an exercising horse. muscle cells lacking in o2 begin to function anaerobically to produce the needed energy. the anaerobic work creates a build up of waste products- lactic acid and inflamm = muscle damage.

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33
Q

Mild clinical sings of rhabdomyolysis:

A

Hind leg stiffness, shuffling gait, mild pain on palpation of gluteal muscles.

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34
Q

severe signs of rhabdomyolysis:

A

severe pain, increased heart rate, sweating, resistant to move, hard painful gluteal muscles, myoglobinuria.

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35
Q

diagnosis of exertional rhabdomyolysis:

A

history, clinical signs, test blood for increases muscle enzymes.

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36
Q

treatment of exertional rhabdomyolysis:

A

anti-inflammatories, rest, fluids, heat therapy/blanket, limit exercise, no grain.

37
Q

prevention of rhabdomyolysis:

A

“feed to the need” proper conditioning, avoid long breaks, avoid sudden changes in exercise.

38
Q

Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis HYPP

A

found in purebred and crossbred quarter horses - descended from one stallion - impressive.

39
Q

what is HYPP?

A

a genetic disease that affects the gene that controls potassium levels in cells. Blood testing will determine presence of gene. Results permanently recorded on papers.

40
Q

what are the causes of HYPP?

A

potassium is vital for the normal function of muscles and nerves
- in horses with hypp, regulation of potassium occasionally fails causing uncontrollable muscle twitching or complete muscle failure. homozygous positive horses are most severely affected.

41
Q

what are the cs of hyperkalemic periodic paralysis?

A
  • muscle tremors, generalized weakness, difficulty breathing, weakness in the hind end, sweating, recumbent, sudden death.
42
Q

how to treat HYPP attacks mild?

A

walking the horse or stall rest.

43
Q

how to treat hypp severe attacks?

A

slow administration of IV calcium gluconate usually results in rapid remission of signs.

44
Q

HYPP prevention?

A

dietary managements: void high potassium feeds, feed two times + daily, allow the horse free access to salt. Avoid rapid changes in diet. Avoid stressful events and sudden enviro changes.

45
Q

bowed tendon “bow”

A

tendonitis of the superficial or deep digital flexor tendon. Tearing of the tendon fibers - mild to severe. most commonly occurs on front limbs.

46
Q

cause of bowed tendon?

A
  • chronic stress on the tendons, Injury,.
47
Q

what horses are at higher risk of bowed tendons?

A

racehorses, polo ponies, jumpers.

48
Q

diagnosis of bowed tendon:

A

exam, ultrasound.

49
Q

treatment of bowed tendon:

A

complete rest, controlled, gradual return to exercise, anti inflammatories, surgery, *stem cell therapy * shock wave therapy

50
Q

splints:

A

2nd and 4th metatarsal bones in horses. mainly see issues in the forelimb and medial splint bone. The splint bones are attached to the cannon bone by an intraosseous ligament that hardens as the horse ages. sometimes called “popped splints”

51
Q

causes of splints?

A

direct trauma, repeated concussion from work, poor conformation, poof hoof balance.

52
Q

splints fracture:

A

can sometimes fracture a splint bone - usually due to traumatic injury. May be surgically removed.

53
Q

bucked shins:

A

periosteal reaction on the dorsal surface of the 3rd metacarpal/ metatarsal bones. Common training injury in young racing horses. High strain repetitive motion injury.

54
Q

bucked shins cannon bone:

A

the cannon (shin) of a properly trained horse is thicker and denser at the front of the bone than at the sides or back.

55
Q

windpuff:

A

soft fluid filled swellings toward the back of the fetlock joint. No heat or pain, inflamed deep digital flexor tendon sheaths. If swellings are symmetrical usually not a concert. If one side larger this usually indicates a problem- acute injury.

56
Q

Spavins- Bog Spavin:

A

chronic fluid distension of the tibiotarsal joint capsule of the hock.

57
Q

what is a bog spavin a result of?

A

injury, degeneration of bone or cartilage OCD- treatment depends entirely on cause.

58
Q

bone spavin:

A

osteoarthritis of inter-tarsal joints.

59
Q

causes of bone spavins:

A

cartilage compression, uneven loading, poor conformation, activity that requires a lot of hock flexion, juvenile spavin, in horses less than 3 yrs of age.

60
Q

diagnosis of spavins:

A

flexion test, radiographs.

61
Q

treatment of bone spavin:

A

NSAIDS, corticosteroid injections, HA or PSGAGs joint injections, shoeing, exercise and work, surgery to fuse joint.

62
Q

ringbone:

A

new bone growth around pastern or coffin joints.

63
Q

High ringbone:

A

between p1 and p2

64
Q

low ringbone:

A

between p2 nd p3. can be articular or non articular.

65
Q

ringbone is a result of ?

A

trauma, repetitive stress.

66
Q

ringbone diagnosis:

A

lameness exam, radiographs.

67
Q

treatment of ringbone:

A

weight management, anti-inflammatories, systemic injections- HA PSGAGS, joint injections with steroids, joint supplements, shoeing strategies, surgery to speed joint fusion in the case of high ringbone.

68
Q

carpal hygroma:

A

subcutaneous swelling over the dorsal aspect of the carpus. Usually result of trauma. over production of synovial fluid that distends the knee.

69
Q

sidebones:

A

ossification of the collateral cartilages of the distal phalanx P3. usually an incidental finding on rads. Rarely a cause of lameness.

70
Q

quarter crack:

A

cracks in the quarter area of the wall of the hoof extending up or down, can be quite painful. Often require shoes to allow crack to heal.

71
Q

causes of quarter crack:

A

improper foot balance, coronary band defects, excessive hoof growth, thin walls, dry hoofs, overly moist hoofs.

72
Q

thrush:

A

infection of the frog- bacterial, occasionally fungal. Foul smelling black discharge in the affected sulcus of the frog.

73
Q

treatment of thrush:

A

good hoof care, antiseptics, tetanus antitoxin.

74
Q

sole abscess:

A

one of the most common causes of lameness in horses. very painful- often non weight bearing.

75
Q

treatment of sole abscesses:

A

open abscess, soaking foot, poultices, tetanus?

76
Q

osteochondrosis OCD

A

cartilage doesn’t form normally. Erosion on joint surfaces. Can occur in all joints. Most frequently in the hock, stifle and fetlock joints.

77
Q

causes of osteochondrosis:

A

rapid growth and large bod size, nutrition, genetics, hormonal imbalances, trauma and exercise.

78
Q

signs of OCD:

A

swelling in the joint.

79
Q

treatment of osteochondrosis:

A

arthroscopic surgery- remove flaps and scrape cartilage.

80
Q

lockjaw:

A

caused by clostridium tetani, produces a neurotoxin, stiff saw horse stance, muscle spasms, paralysis of masseter muscle= unable to open the jaw -= lockjaw.

81
Q

tetanus:

A

transmission: soil contamination of an open wound or puncture.

82
Q

treatment of tetanus:

A

penicillin, tetanus antitoxins.

83
Q

prevention of tetanus:

A

vaccination with tetanus toxoid.

84
Q

sweeney:

A

refers to atrophy of a group of muscles just below and to the rear of the shoulder line. Most associated with damage to the suprascapular nerve that runs over the shoulder. Initially the horse may drag knuckle over the foot due to nerve injury.

85
Q

stringhalt:

A

gait abnormality characterized by exaggerated involuntary upward flexion of the hindlimb that occurs at every stride at walk. Cause unknown but thought to be a nerve problem.

86
Q

stringhalt treatment:

A

surgically removing part of the digital extensor tendon.

87
Q

thouroughpin:

A

swelling of the tendon sheath around the deep digital flexor tendon asit passes over the hock- tenosynovitis. A pocket of synovial fluid forms within the tendon sheath. +/- lameness.

88
Q

treatment of thoroughpin:

A

rest wrapping massage.