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HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Joint, Bone, Ligament Diseases » Arthritis and DJD: An Overview » What tests would be suitable?

Discussion on What tests would be suitable?

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Imogen Bertin
Member
Username: Imogen

Post Number: 797
Registered: 4-2003

Posted on Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 - 6:02 am:

Hello Dr O

My 15 yo mare is becoming progressively chronically lame in the right front fetlock - the problem has been developing for several years and to date been managed with rest. I think there are three possible causes:

- sesamoiditis
- arthritis/DJD
- consequences of a flexor tendon injury about 5 years ago
- navicular

I want to keep her comfortable and useful if at all possible as a riding club horse doing a bit of dressage, a few hunter trials and a little 1 m showjumping - maybe 10 outings a year otherwise gentle hacks.

I realise this may not be possible and she may not even be rideable, or it may be quite manageable with appropriate treatment.

To know how best to manage the problem I need a diagnosis of course.

I am quite prepared to stamp my foot and insist on seeing the senior vet at the equine practice not a recently qualified vet in order to ensure an accurate diagnosis.

However first it seems to me I need to work her and wait until the lameness is fairly obvious, and secondly I need to know a bit about what tests should be done to find out the problem.

From reading the articles I would assume they should do:

- observation and flexion tests

- intrarticular nerve blocks to try to localise the pain

- probably x-ray and ultrasound once localised.

Is that roughly right? I will only get a very small amount of the senior vet's time and I always find it useful to have some idea of the appropriate procedures/possible diagnoses when dealing with him.

I did get him to look at her once before about 4 years ago when this first started and he told me he would vet her sound for the sales in the morning, so I don't want that to happen again! I knew she was slightly lame then and it has just got slowly slowly worse.

Thanks.

Imogen

Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro

Post Number: 15958
Registered: 1-1997

Posted on Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 - 9:44 am:

Yes though prior to the intra-articular blocks would be the nerve blocks and finally if flexor sheath block relieves the lameness (ie it refers to the flexor tendon within the sheath) syno-tenoscopy can both provide a diagnosis and treatment that may improve your horses prognosis.
DrO

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