National equine survey uncovers common conditions

Findings from this year’s national equine survey have found a close association between lameness and back pain in horses. Analysis of the health status of more than 15,000 horses found up to 26 per cent with back pain also had lameness. While the findings do not prove the two issues are related, they support a pattern observed by equine researcher Sue Dyson at the Animal Health Trust (AHT). Dyson, head of clinical orthopaedics at the Centre for Equine Studies at the AHT, said: ‘It is a common observation that horses with lameness stiffen the back as a protective mechanism and develop muscle pain which may be misinterpreted as a primary back problem. ‘We have shown objectively that abolition of lameness by diagnostic analgesia results in an immediate increase in range of motion of the back. The current data support this close relationship between lameness and back pain.’ Skin diseases...
Source: Veterinary Record - Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News section Source Type: research