Horses are a symbol of courage, speed, and strength, and they are animals known for their speed and power. Horse racing holds great importance.
Since horses are characterized by their speed, it is necessary to maintain and closely monitor their joints to avoid any problems or worsening of any inflammation in the horse's joints that could affect its speed and health.
Today, I will discuss a topic that represents the most important and dangerous problem facing horses, which is lameness.
If we notice any abnormal movement in the horse's legs, they should be carefully examined to precisely identify the problem and start treatment.
We begin with diagnosis:
Lameness is relatively more common in the front legs of horses because they bear the greater weight of the body and also during movement and running, they are the part that first strikes the ground.
First: The animal should be observed while moving forward and backward to identify the location of the pain and determine which limb is affected.
Second: We start identifying the affected joint through several tests.
1- We begin by examining the hoof using a hoof knife and observing any unusual part in the hoof or any injury.
Also, using a hoof tester device to know if any part inside the hoof is injured and not visible or if there is any pain.
2- We examine the entire limb to ensure there are no wounds or visible scratches causing lameness or pain.
3- Flexion test -
We start by bending each joint of the affected limb for 30–60 seconds, then let the animal move while observing its first steps after this test. This helps determine the joint that is the source of inflammation and pain.
After confirming the presence of lameness in the horse and precisely identifying the problem location, treatment should begin to prevent the problem from worsening.
The most important available treatment for lameness in horses is the osphos injection.
It is an intramuscular injection with a dose of 1.8 milligrams per kilogram.
The maximum dose that can be injected into the horse is 900 milligrams.
The dose is injected in 3 divided parts at 3 different injection sites.
These injections are very important because they:
1- Improve bone health
2- Reduce the number of osteoclast cells present in the affected bones
3- Balance the processes of resorption & remodeling
4- Treat any inflammation or pain
5- Improve joint movement and thus improve the horse's movement
Of course, the horse should be continuously observed and any injury treated early to facilitate treatment.
