Page 324 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

CLINICAL SIGNS

These depend on the degree of tissue damage. The horse will generally be very lame.
VetBooks.ir However, these injuries are sometimes overlooked if the injury has occurred at speed. This is

because there is a gliding action between the skin and the tendon as the horse moves, so the
skin wound may not lie directly over the tendon laceration when the horse is at rest.

If the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) has been severed, the horse may stand

normally. If the injury is very painful, it may bear weight on the toe to prevent movement of
the tendon. If the opposite limb is lifted, the fetlock joint will have a ‘dropped’ appearance

and be slightly closer to the ground (Figure 7.7). If both the SDFT and the deep digital flexor
tendon (DDFT) are cut, the toe will lift off the ground when the limb bears weight (Figure
7.8).