Lameness of the Horse | Page 4

affect a cure, and if lameness is
slight, the animal should be given suitable work, but in cases of
articular spavin in aged subjects, they should be humanely destroyed
and not subjected to prolonged misery.
A thorough knowledge of the structure and functions of the affected
parts is necessary to proceed in cases of lameness; likewise, the age,
conformation and temperament of the subject need to be taken into
consideration; the presence or absence of complications demand the
attention; the kind of care the subject will probably receive directly
influences the outcome; and the character of service expected of the
subject, too, needs to be carefully considered before the ultimate
outcome may reasonably be foretold.
The practitioner is often confronted with the problem of how best to
handle certain cases. Will they do better under conditions where
absolute quiet is enforced, or is it preferable to allow exercise at will?
The temperament of the animal must be considered in such cases, and if
a lame horse is too active and playful when given his freedom, exercise
must be restricted or prevented, as the case may require. In cases of
strains of tendons, during the acute stage, immobilization of the
affected parts is in order. In certain sub-acute inflammatory processes
or in instances of paralytic disturbance where convalescence is in

progress, moderate exercise is highly beneficial.
Consequently, each case in itself presents an individual problem to be
judged and handled in the manner experience has taught to be most
effective, appropriate and practical, and the veterinarian should give
due consideration to the comfort and welfare of the crippled animal as
well as to the interests of the owner.

SECTION I.
ETIOLOGY AND OCCURRENCE.
In discussions of pathological conditions contributing to lameness in
the horse, cause is generally classified under two heads--predisposing
and exciting. It becomes necessary, however, to adopt a more general
and comprehensive method of classification, herein, which will enable
the reader to obtain a better conception of the subject and to more
clearly associate the parts so grouped descriptively.
Though predisposing factors, such as faulty conformation, are often to
be reckoned with, exciting causes predominate more frequently in any
given number of cases. The noble tendency of the horse to serve its
master under the stress of pain, even to the point of complete
exhaustion and sudden death, should win for these willing servants a
deeper consideration of their welfare. Too frequently are their
manifestations of discomfort allowed to pass unheeded by careless,
incompetent drivers lacking in a sense of compassion. Symptoms of
malaise should never be ignored in any case; the humane and economic
features should be realized by any owner of animals.
In the consideration of group causes, lameness may be said to originate
from affections of bones, ligaments, thecae and bursae, muscles and
tendons, nerves, lymph vessels and glands, and blood vessels, and may
also result from an involvement of one or several of the aforementioned
tissues, caused by rheumatism. Further, affections of the feet merit
separate consideration, and, finally, a miscellaneous grouping of

various dissimilar ailments, which for the most part, do not directly
involve the locomotory apparatus but do, by their nature, impede
normal movement.
AFFECTIONS OF BONES.
The bony column serving as the framework and support of the legs,
probably constitutes the most vital element having to do with weight
bearing and locomotion, and therefore during the acute and painful
stage of bone affections, the pain becomes more intense in the process
and pressure of standing than when the member is swung or advanced.
Certain bones are so well protected by muscular structures that they are
not frequently injured except as a result of violence which may produce
fracture. However, there are certain bones which receive the constant
shock of concussion when the animal is subjected to daily, rapid work
on hard road surfaces. Splints, ringbones and spavins are the most
general examples produced by these conditions.
Varying pathological developments often result from concussion,
contusion or other violent shocks to the bony structures. In such cases
there either follows a simple periostitis which may resolve
spontaneously with no obvious outward symptom, or osteitis, which
may occur with tissue changes, as in exostosis; or the case may produce
any degree of reaction between these two possible extremes.
Rarefying Osteitis, or Degenerative Changes.
Certain bone affections, such as osteomalacia or osteoporosis, are in the
main, responsible for distortions and morphological changes of bone,
causing lameness, permanent blemish and even resulting in death of the
affected animal. The climatic conditions in some localities favor these
occurrences but they may also be ascribed to improper food
constituents and to possible infective agencies.
Rarefying degenerative changes manifested by exostosis involving the
phalanges of the young, causing ringbone, are fairly common in
occurrence throughout this country. This is due, supposedly,