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First Aid for Lameness in Horses
  by Robert N. Oglesby DVM

Introduction

Introduction » First Step: Localize the Lameness » Is it an Emergency? » Treatment » Lame on the Trail » I Need to Have the Vet Out » More Info 

Your horse has just come up lame. While you go through this assesment / treatment / referral paradigm best would be to allow the horse to rest standing still, particularly if he is non-weight bearing on a leg. If he can walk without too much difficulty, he can be put in a stall.

Lameness is defined as a change in gait or way of going in a horse and is a common event. It is not a disease but a symptom of one (or rarely a combination) of the following diseases:
  • Pain in the feet, legs, back, or neck
  • Mechanical problems of the muscoskeletal system
  • Muscular Weakness
  • Peripheral nerve disease
  • Central nervous disease
Of course proper treatment will depend on an accurate diagnosis however horses often come up lame for reasons that are not immediately obvious. This article and it's links takes you through a step by step paradigm to help you decide do you have an emergency, when you need a vet, and considerations for diagnosis and proper first aid for an unknown lameness in your horse.
      ~Word Count: 1662 words (The average magazine page contains about 600 words);
      ~Last Updated: September 08, 2009;

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Discussions on First Aid for the Lame Horse
  Titles Subtopics Posts Updated
iconChronic Sinusitis Nightmare1 7 Jul 30, 09
iconHelp! Won't put pressure on Front Right Leg1 28 Jun 28, 09
iconLAME GELDING AFTER ROUND PEN WORK1 10 Jun 12, 08
iconSwelling in Decending Pectoral after fall1 3 Feb 20, 08
iconBone Glue1 2 Feb 2, 06
iconRecognizing sequestrum1 5 Jul 7, 05
iconLameness?1 6 May 11, 05
iconMysterious non pain full swelling1 3 Jan 24, 01
iconAzoturia or "tieing up'??1 13 Jun 7, 00
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