Page 485 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

type, poor quality pastures with toxic weeds should be avoided, especially in the summer and

autumn of dry years.
VetBooks.ir Prognosis

With classic stringhalt, this depends on the severity of the condition, the use of the horse and

the response to surgery. The outcome of Australian stringhalt is very variable. Some horses
make a full recovery when removed from the pasture. Others are so severely affected that

euthanasia is the humane option.

WOBBLER SYNDROME

The horse has 7 cervical vertebrae (C1–7) – see page 344. Wobbler syndrome occurs when

developmental abnormalities of the cervical vertebrae cause narrowing (known as stenosis)
of the vertebral canal. This results in compression of the spinal cord, leading to weakness,
gait abnormalities and incoordination. The condition is also known as cervical stenotic

myelopathy and cervical vertebral malformation. There are two recognized forms of the
disease.

1 Static stenosis With static stenosis, there is constant narrowing of the vertebral canal

which is not usually influenced by movements of the neck. It typically affects the
vertebrae of the lower neck, C5–7, and the condition is typically diagnosed when the
horse is between 1–4 years of age.

2 Dynamic stenosis With dynamic stenosis, the compression tends to affect the vertebrae

in the middle of the neck, between C3 and C6, and it only occurs when the neck is flexed
or extended. The symptoms are usually noticed earlier and the condition tends to be

diagnosed before the horse reaches 2 years of age.

Wobbler syndrome is seen particularly in well-nourished, fast-growing foals and young
animals, especially male Thoroughbreds. Older horses can develop the condition due to

severe arthritis of the lower neck.

Causes

A number of factors may contribute to the development of wobbler syndrome.

• There may be a hereditary predisposition.

• A large body size and periods of rapid growth.