Lameness in horses can be a serious and painful problem with several possible causes. It is important to notice the signs early to improve the chances of successful treatment. Lameness is a problem if your horseā€˜s gait is abnormal in any way.

Lameness can stem from hoof inflammation, fractured bones, injured muscles, tendons, or ligaments. Injury, overwork, inadequate conditioning, and poor footing can all cause problems that can lead to lameness. There are also inflammatory, neurological, and infectious diseases that can cause lameness.

Diagnosing and Treating Equine Lameness

It is important to notice the signs of lameness promptly and to engage the help of your veterinarian right away. Your equine veterinarian will have their own unique method of evaluating lameness. Dr. Griffin may watch your horse walk, trot, canter, or on a lunge line in order to evaluate your horse for lameness. He may also use perineural blocks in order to accurately diagnose the region of the limb responsible for the lameness. Following location of the lameness, diagnostics such as radiology and/or ultrasound will be recommended. Treatments will be recomended based upon the cause of lameness. They can vary widely and be as simple as stall rest to as involved as surgery.

As equine veterinary medicine has advanced, newer treatments are being widely used such as stem cell therapy and the use of PRP. No matter what the course of treatment may be, or what the cause of lameness is, Dr. Griffin hopes that you will contact him as soon as possible, in order that Dr. Griffin can be a part of assisting you and your horse with this important performance issue.