Equine Lameness

Lameness evaluations are carried out by our team of clinicians including two surgery specialists who have decades of combined experience in lameness diagnosis and advanced imaging.  Although we mostly see referral or second opinion lameness cases, we are happy to also examine horses primarily.

When your horse presents to us for lameness we will begin by discussing the nature and history of the problems with you and your regular veterinarian.  If you have medical records or diagnostic images such as radiographs, please bring them with you or send them in advance for review. Our clinicians will perform a detailed clinical examination then observe the horse led in hand walking and trotting.  We have a full size sand arena and can observe horses ridden when appropriate.

After the lameness is observed we typically perform diagnostic nerve or joint blocks to localise and confirm the source of lameness. Once the painful area is localized, it can be imaged with radiographs, ultrasound or CT to definitively diagnose the underlying problem. In more challenging cases such as horses with multiple problems, upper limb and back pain, and lameness that is only apparent during intense exercise, we can use nuclear scintigraphy to screen the entire horse and localize the source of pain.

Once an accurate diagnosis is made, our specialists will discuss the prognosis and available treatment options.  Should your horse be diagnosed with lameness arising from the feet, we have a master farrier available at the hospital for consultation and remedial farriery procedures.
Common causes of lameness encountered:

• Hoof wall or sole damage
• Laminitis
• Injury or degeneration or the podotrochlear (navicular) apparatus
• Degenerative joint disease
• Flexor tendon and suspensory ligament injuries
• Osteochondrosis
• Stifle lameness resulting from soft tissue injuries
• Stress fractures
• Angular and flexural limb deformity
• Wounds, sequestrum and septic arthritis

Treatments available:

• Remedial farriery
• Diagnostic and surgical arthroscopy
• Surgical correction of wounds, angular and flexural deformities
• Fracture repair
• Arthrodesis /facilitated ankylosis
• Irap – autologous conditioned serum
• PRP – platelet rich plasma
• Structured exercise programs
• Physiotherapy