The veterinarian will be on the lookout for shortening of the stride, irregular foot placement, head bobbing, stiffness, weight shifting, etc. This may happen on a longe line, in a round pen, and/or under saddle. The horse will be walked and trotted in circles. While watching the horse from the front, back, and both side views, the veterinarian will notice any unusual changes in the horse's gait (such as winging or paddling), failure to land squarely on all four feet and the unnatural shifting of weight from one limb to another. Gait evaluation on a flat, hard (concrete) surface usually gives the doctor the information he needs to pinpoint the lameness. The veterinarian will watch the horse as he is walking and trotting. This instrument allows the veterinarian to apply pressure to the soles of the feet to check for sensitivity or pain. The veterinarian will palpate the horse, check its muscles, joints, bones, and tendons for evidence of pain, heat, swelling or any other physical abnormalities. The veterinarian will study the horse's conformation, balance, and weight-bearing, as well as look for any evidence of injury or stress. They will also discuss the horse's work schedule. The veterinarian will ask the owner questions relating to past and present issues the horse has been dealing with. Discussing the medical history of the horse.Keep reading to find out what happens during each leg of the lameness exam! He will be performing several tests that may not look super involved but can tell him a lot of information about what is ailing your horse. When your horse is having a lameness exam, the vet will be doing more than just trotting the horse down a straightaway. Identifying the source of the problem is essential to the proper treatment of the horse. These abnormalities can be caused by pain in the neck, withers, shoulders, back, loin, hips, legs or feet. In addition, lameness is sometimes described as a change in attitude or performance. When you are talking about horses, lameness has been defined as any alteration of the horse's gait. When it comes to everything else, being lame means to be uncool. A lameness exam early on can save you time, money, and frustration by diagnosing and treating the problem immediately, possibly preventing further damage from occurring. When lameness occurs, you should contact your veterinarian. Stress, strain, or injury can take a toll on any horse, whether he is an equine athlete or he is spending his days as a pasture puff.
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