Your veterinarian can help you improve your horses comfort level if he has DSLD. | Courtesy Dr. Robert KoontzQ: How can owners and veterinarians reduce a horses joint pain when they have DSLD?A: Degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis (DSLD) results in degeneration of the suspensory ligament in all limbs, but usually we see more clinical signs in the hindlimbs than the forelimbs. The job of the suspensory ligament is to suspend the fetlock joint, hence the name. And so, horses that have DSLD will have progressive hyperextension or a dropped appearance to their fetlocks, typically in the hindlimbs. What you often see isfetlock joint pain and effusion, as well as effusion within the tendon sheathbecause the changes in their fetlock angle, as well as all inflammatory mediators(regulate the immuneand inflammatoryresponses)at the suspensory branches,leak into the adjacent synovial structures,causingsecondary joint inflammation and pain. The other thing to knowisthe suspensory ligament originates at the top of the cannonbone, rightnext to thedistal(farthest from the center of the body)hock joints in the hindlimb.There are a few things you can do to improve horses comfort level if they have DSLD. The first is to have your farrier put a heel extension shoe on their hind feet. This changes the biomechanics of their fetlocks and provides support, so they should drop their fetlocks a bit less. I also put these horses on systemic pain medications. I usually use firocoxib on them and acetaminophen because they do typically need to stay on these long-term due to the progressive nature of the disease over time.The other thing you can do is you can inject their hock joints, their hind fetlocks, and their tendon sheath to make those adjacent joints more comfortable. The product injected into the joint will also diffuse into the surrounding soft tissues, which is the suspensory ligament, so it can make the suspensory ligament feel better too and might help promote a little bit of healing. I always use orthobiologics and I never use steroids when injecting these horses because we know that steroids can worsen ligament injury, meaning it might make things worse instead of better.Also, if your horse is older, I would have your veterinarian check them for pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID, formerly equine Cushings disease). We know that PPID results in increased circulating steroid levels in the horses body, and that will also weaken the horses tendon ligaments.If you notice your horse losing hair, first consult your veterinarian and determine the underlying cause. Many causes for equine hair loss require medical treatment, but once health issues have been ruled out, investigating the diet is the next step. When feeding to improve coat health, first ensure that your horses basic nutrient needs are met with a high-quality ration balancer, then consider an additional supplement of biotin and an omega-3 fatty acid source. If you are unsure if your horses current diet is meeting his nutrient requirements, reach out to a qualified equine nutritionist.

The hock is made up of three rows of bones and three distinct joints. | Stephanie L. ChurchWith multiple rows of uniquely shaped bones, several distinct joint spaces, and a plethora of soft-tissue attachments, the horses hock (tarsus) plays a crucial role in equine locomotion. However, its complex anatomy can prove a diagnostic challenge for veterinarians.Unlike the forelimbs, lameness related to the distal extremity is less common in hind limbs, yet the hocks are a common source of pain/discomfort causing lameness, says Pablo Espinosa-Mur, DVM, DVCs, Dipl. ACVSMR, assistant professor of diagnostic imaging at Ontario Veterinary College, in Canada. Horse Hock AnatomyThe hock joint is made up of three rows of bones and three distinct joints. The bulbous ends of the horses tibias, called the malleoli, come to rest on top of each talus, a uniquely shaped bone in the hock forming the tarsocrural joint. Each talus has two obliquely oriented (slanted or at an angle) ridges extending from the dorsal (towards the back) aspect of the bone that interlock with the malleoli and the distal (lower) intermediate ridge of the tibia.The flat bottom of the talus articulates with the rectangular central tarsal bone, forming the talocalcaneal-centroquartal (or proximal intertarsal) joint. The bottom of the central tarsal bone overlies the small cuboidal bones, numbered one through four, forming the centrodistal joint. Finally, the small cuboidal bones articulate with the metatarsal bones (primarily the third metatarsal bone, which is the cannon bone) forming the tarsometatarsal joint.Several soft-tissue structures such as muscles, ligaments, and tendons pass alongside the hock. This includes the digital flexor tendons coursing along the plantar aspect (toward the rear) of the joint, the extensor tendons running along the dorsal aspect, and the medial and lateral (located closer to and further away from the median plane of the horse, respectively) collateral ligaments extending from the lateral aspects of the tibia to the third metatarsal bones.However, there is sometimes communication between other joints as well, which means intra-articular (IA) anesthesia may not be specific, adds Sue Dyson, MA, VetMB, PhD, an independent consultant based in the U.K. Joint communication refers to the interconnection between different joint compartments, which allows synovial fluid to flow between them.There are many attachments as well as deep and superficial parts both medially and laterally that have different orientations and attachments. These structures can get injured individually or together, complicating the workup, Dyson explains.Common Horse Hock PathologyDyson says common pathologies (disease or damage) causing lameness in the horses hock include:Osteoarthritis (OA) in the distal hock joints, particularly the centrodistal (distal intertarsal) and/ or tarsometatarsal joints;Osteochondrosis dissecans (loose cartilage or bone fragments in the joint) in the distal cranial (toward the horses head) aspect of theintermediate ridge of the tibia (DIRT lesions) or the trochleas of the talus, often combined with secondary osteoarthritis of the tarsocrural joint; andTraumatic injury of the deep and superficial collateral ligaments.In some cases, osteoarthritis of the distal tarsal joints and desmitis (damage of a ligament and surrounding structures) of the proximal suspensory ligament (originates at the top of the cannon bone and supports the fetlock) can be seen in the same horse, says Espinosa-Mur. These conditions can be clinical while others can be subclinical (not visible to the eye) at the time of presentation.Diagnostic Analgesia in the HockBecause the hocks structures lie in such proximity to one another, performing nerve blocks to localize lameness to one location can be challenging for veterinarians, says Espinosa-Mur. Some of these structures share innervation or are close enough that diagnostic analgesic can diffuse and cause false results, he adds. For example, the anesthetic agent can diffuse from the tarsometatarsal joint into surrounding structures. This means the veterinarian unintentionally desensitizes the surrounding area, including the suspensory ligament.This is particularly true if too much local anesthetic solution is used as it will leak out from the tarsometatarsal joint and influence the suspensory ligament, says Dyson. Ideally, practitioners will cross-block, meaning they will block the suspensory ligament on one occasion and the tarsometatarsal joint on a separate visit.It is important for veterinarians to recognize that IA anesthesia will not remove bone pain, says Dyson. So with OA that involves subchondral bone (beneath the cartilage) damage, an intra-articular block may be negative.Imaging the Horses HockVeterinarians can use X rays as a first-line method to evaluate the structures in the hock. When they cannot reach a clear answer using this imaging modality, advanced imaging is the next step.To help home in on the specific source of hock lameness, Espinosa-Mur and colleagues recently published a study using 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF, a radioisotope) PET for imaging the tarsus and proximal metatarsus (the upper aspect of the cannon bone near the hock). They took 18F-NaF PET images of 25 horses with lameness localized to these regions and compared them to computed tomography (CT) scans of those same 25 horses.Espinosa-Mur says he and colleagues believe imaging modalities capable of distinguishing active injuries from chronic or incidental (found unexpectedly, typically without clinical signs or need for treatment) lesions would benefit equine practitioners, especially when evaluating the hock. In this case 18F-NaF PET provides an image that helps veterinarians detect active lesions by highlighting areas where the bone takes up the radioisotopesimilar to a bone scan but in 3D.In some cases the PET scan results correlated with those from the subjective and objective lameness evaluations. Advanced imaging with PET could definitively help determine the (lesions) that display higher osseous (bony) turnover, which in some cases can be the ones that are causing lameness, says Dyson.Take-Home MessageThe equine hock is a complex collection of joints, which makes diagnosing hock pain challenging. With a good clinical examination, systematic use of nerve blocks, and good radiography and ultrasonography, many diagnoses of hock-related injury can be achieved, says Dyson. Since the advent and wider availability of advanced imaging, including CT and PET, veterinarians can more easily diagnose hock problems and determine their clinical relevance, allowing targeted treatment options.

Delighted to see our former horse nice star b (highway )produced by Sophie hillier to 145cm level including this year qualifying for hoys has been sold to the stable of Ben and Sophie Maher .Will be lovely to see her develop further In the stable of one of the best In the world .well done Sophie for doing a fabulous job with her with one of your Bsh graduates .

Fancy receiving birthday greetings, good luck wishes or simply a confidence boost from a top rider? Well now you can thanks to an initiative from Stride Media which provides supporters with personalised voice notes and video messages from riders they admire.The Start Box, which launched this month, is the first platform fully dedicated to personalised voice notes and video messages from professional equestrian riders.Event riders Mary King, Tom McEwen, Kitty King, Jesse Campbell, Gaspard Maksud, Will Rawlin and Mark Corbett are the initial group of riders who are on the platform. Six-time Olympian Mary King, one of eventings most recognised names, was the first rider to join the platform.Expansion plannedAdditional event riders are being announced in the coming days and weeks and the aim is for the platform to one day include riders from dressage, showjumping and racing. A personalised message from a rider someone admires can become part of a birthday, a good luck wish, a congratulations message or a confidence boost, and is also a memory kept forever, said Bryony Crowther, founder of The Start Box.How it worksTo receive a personalised voice note or video message, supporters need to complete the form on the website with details of the recipient, the occasion, the occasion date and a brief. You can select whether you want to receive the message directly or whether you want it to be sent to someone else.Voice notes cost 75 while video messages are 150. Standard delivery is typically within seven days but there is a priority delivery option of 20 for time-sensitive occasions.For more information and to visit the website, click here. Image Liz Knowler.Related contentPole exercises that make clever, confident horsesTina Cooks top tips for jumping on grassRichard Waygoods cavaletti exercisesFive common problems with a riders jumping position solvedThe post New platform enables fans to receive personalised messages from top riders appeared first on Your Horse.

The U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories has confirmed a new case of NWS in a calf in La Salle County, Texas. The USDA and the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) have expanded surveillance and response measures in the area.New World screwworm is a parasitic fly that causes severe, potentially fatal infestations by feeding on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals. Quick detection, treatment, and reporting are vital to safeguarding livestock, wildlife, and pets.USDA and TAHC are conducting a coordinated response that includes:Joint epidemiological investigations and case tracingAdditional surveillance, testing, and trapping in the affected areasReleasing sterile insectsand adjusting these operations as needed for the most effective coverageConducting outreach to animal ownersOngoing coordination with local officials, veterinarians, ranchers, and community partnersGuidance for Animal Owners and VeterinariansThe most important thing animal owners can do is to know what to look for and how to report suspected cases of NWS. The USDA urges everyone in the area to check animals for:Draining or enlarging woundsMaggots or egg massesSigns of discomfortLesions in body openings (nose, ears, genitalia, umbilical area)Anyone who suspects a screwworm infestation should immediately contact their veterinarian, state animal health official, orthe USDA. Early reporting is essential to ensure animals receive prompt treatment so they fully recover. Though rare in people, anyone who notices a suspicious lesion should seek immediate medical care.Additional updates and resources are available atScrewworm.gov. Editors note: Current screwworm case counts can be found at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/animal-health/livestock-and-poultry-disease/current-status/us-confirmed-cases-new-world

Following the recent detection of New World screwworm (NWS) in Texas, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is empowering one of the most important tools in preventing, identifying, treating and containing this parasite: the veterinarian.Frontline practitioners across the country are already actively engaged through monitoring and diagnosing potential cases, treating susceptible animals, reporting to state and federal authorities, and educating their clients. Additionally, the AVMA has mobilized and is building on a centralized hub of clinical resources to support practitioners across the profession at avma.org/NWS.Veterinarians are the trusted experts on the ground who possess the medical expertise required to limit animal suffering and prevent further spread of this parasite, said Michael Q. Bailey, DVM, Dipl. ACVR, president of the AVMA. The AVMA is committed to equipping our members with the up-to-date resources and guidance they need to remain proactively vigilant, protect their clients animals, and effectively combat NWS.The AVMA is working alongside federal, state, and industry partners to support a coordinated response.Veterinarians: The Key to Early NWS Detection and CareBecause NWS larvae feed aggressively on the living tissue of warm-blooded animalscausing potentially fatal tissue damage and infectionearly recognition and rapid veterinary intervention are essential. Veterinarians are working with their clients and others to protect susceptible animals, including livestock, horses, companion animals, and wildlife, with a focus on several critical areas:Identifying High-Risk Animals Closely monitoring animals most vulnerable to NWS, including those that have recently given birth, are newly born, have open wounds, or have undergone recent surgical or management procedures such as dehorning or branding.Evaluation of Suspected Cases Actively evaluating animals presenting with wounds, draining lesions, foul odors, visible larvae, or unexplained tissue damage, especially animals located in or recently moved from affected or high-risk regions.Sample Collection and Reporting Following established protocols for collecting samples and reporting through their state animal health official and USDA APHIS VS Area Veterinarian in Charge.Guiding Treatment Decisions Ensuring medical interventions follow official guidance; are grounded in sound veterinary practice, proper selection and use of veterinary products, and strict observance of withdrawal times where appropriate; and that care is delivered within a properly established veterinarian-client-patient relationship.A Universe of RolesBeyond those providing direct clinical care, many other veterinarians are playing essential roles in the coordinated response to this animal health threat. They include state and federal animal health officials addressing policy and emergency management, extension veterinarians, veterinary laboratory diagnosticians, disease surveillance and epidemiologic specialists, researchers, veterinary professional services representatives who support veterinarians on the ground with access and information regarding products for prevention and treatment, public health veterinarians, and more.