Lameness Exams
Lameness can be a major issue for horses, dramatically affecting their everyday quality of life. Trust our veterinary experts to put your equine companion on the road to recovery.
Lameness Exams in Tampa, FL
Blood flow to the sensitive and insensitive laminae within the foot, which binds the coffin bone to the hoof wall, is disrupted, resulting in laminitis. While the exact mechanisms that cause damage to the feet are unknown, some triggering circumstances can cause laminitis. Although laminitis affects the feet, it is often caused by a problem elsewhere in the horse’s body. Our skilled veterinary team takes lameness seriously, evaluating it thoroughly with a series of examinations to develop an exact treatment for your horse’s case.
Comprehensive Lameness Exams for Equine Patients
The following are symptoms of acute laminitis:
- Lameness, particularly when a horse is going in circles; fluctuating lameness when a horse is standing
- The feet are hot
- Digital pulse in the feet has increased
- When pressure is given with hoof testers, it causes pain in the toe region
- As if “stepping on eggshells,” cautious or hesitant gait
- The front feet are extended out in front to relieve pressure on the toes, and the back feet are “camped out” or positioned farther back than usual to bear greater weight
- Rings in the hoof wall that get broader as you go from toe to heel
- Stone bruises or bruised soles
- Widening white line, sometimes known as “seedy toe,” with blood pockets and/or abscesses
- Flat feet or dropped soles
- Crusty, thick neck
Contact Us for Lameness Exams
If you are in need of lameness exams in Tampa, FL, do not hesitate to contact us at Hickory Hill Veterinary Services. Our dedicated team is ready to respond to your call and provide the urgent care your animal needs. Your animal’s health and well-being are our top priorities, and we are here to support you through any emergency situation.