Full lameness examinations are offered either at the clinic or at the trainer or owner’s property. A lameness work-up is usually made up of the following steps:
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Evaluation of the horse while standing and at walk, trot and canter if necessary.
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Flexion tests are often a useful part of lameness exam. These can sometimes temporarily exacerbate lameness and therefore help us to localise the source of pain.
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Perineural or intra-articular analgesia (nerve and joint blocks) involve injecting local anaesthetic either around nerves or directly into joints. By desensitizing particular areas and evaluating the difference in lameness the pain can be localized further.
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Imaging of the suspicious regions or regions is then usually performed to look for abnormalities in the bones or soft tissue structures.
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Once a diagnosis is made, we have several therapeutic treatments available that may be suitable for your horse.