Page 155 - Adams and Stashak's Lameness in Horses, 7th Edition
P. 155

Examination for Lameness  121




  VetBooks.ir

























               A                                                B






























               C                                                D
             Figure 2.111.  A (10″ × 10″) 15  wooden wedge block with a   medial wedge (D). Depending on the orientation of the block,
                                     o
             nonslip surface can be used for distal limb manipulation during   different tissues within the hoof are placed under compression or
             lameness evaluation. The foot is typically placed in four different   tension. Source: Courtesy of Dr. Randy Eggleston.
             orientations; toe wedge (A), heel wedge (B), lateral wedge (C), and

             help suggest neurological problems. Hindlimb weakness   Limb placement can be assessed by walking the horse
             can be assessed by either pushing the horse from one side   over a curb, circling, positioning the limb across midline
             to the other or more commonly be pulling its tail to each   while standing, and trotting in a serpentine pattern.
             side. This has been referred to as the sway test or tail pull   Repeated stumbling, hitting the curb, circumduction of
                 15
             test.  Normal horses resist pulling the tail, while many   the hindlimbs, and a general sense of not knowing where
             ataxic horses appear relatively weak and do very little to   the hindfeet are suggest a neurologic problem. Some
             resist being pulled from one side to the other. However,   horses that have bilateral hindlimb ataxia may also appear
             this test is very subjective, and many young Warmblood   very “bouncy” when trotted and when stopped suddenly
             horses with underdeveloped hindlimb musculature often   from a trot may stumble in the hindlimbs. A variety of
             appear to be very weak but are not neurological.    neurologic conditions may be confused with lameness
   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160