Page 244 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse
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Clinical signs
Horses show variable degrees of lameness.
VetBooks.ir • Thin-soled horses may suddenly become acutely lame after stepping on a stone.
• Others show lameness for a couple of strides then continue normally.
• Some show temporary lameness at the time but come out of the stable lame the following
day.
• Horses with mild bruising may only be lame on hard or uneven ground.
• If the bruising affects more than one foot, the horse may appear stiff or short-striding all
round especially on hard ground. It may be reluctant to jump.
Horses with a corn may be continually or intermittently lame. The lameness is often worse
when the horse turns or works on a circle.
Other symptoms include:
• withdrawal of the foot when hoof testers are applied to the affected area
• increased warmth in the foot
• increased digital pulse
• discolouration of the horn may be seen in unpigmented feet with bruising (Figure 6.35).
