VET VIBES
Managing arthritis Unfortunately, arthritis can affect horses of all ages. RACHEL ROAN spoke to veterinarian Dr Calum Paltridge to learn more.
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rthritis can be a problem for horses at any age, so I asked Dr Calum Paltridge for a
rundown on arthritis, what it involves, and the treatments available. In a horse with arthritis, lameness is often the first noticeable symptom. “We get a lot of horses that just aren’t going right; they’re not travelling properly. They may not even be overtly lame but they’re not comfortable,” Calum explains.
However, poor performance and discomfort can be caused by other problems, making it challenging to know if arthritis is the culprit or not. And that, Calum tells me, is why it’s important to investigate the issue thoroughly. In horses that develop arthritis, signs can include lameness, a reduced range of motion, heat in their joints, and swelling. Arthritis may be the result of an autoimmune disorder, which is rarely reported, or down to osteochondritis
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dissecans (OCD), a developmental disease affecting the cartilage and bone in the joints causing fragments of bone to become loose. “While a lot of research has been conducted into OCD, vets still don’t really know what causes it or how to best prevent it. It’s likely to have a genetic and nutritional component behind it,” Calum suggests. The most common type of arthritis is wear and tear osteoarthritis, often seen in performance horses. However, regardless of the cause, the impact is the same: lameness, pain and reduced performance. But can you still ride a horse with arthritis? That depends. Arthritis can range all the way from very mild changes, which Calum believes will develop in most performance horses to some degree over their lifetime, up to the crippling arthritis most noticeable in aged horses that struggle in the colder months. Diagnosis begins with a full lameness exam, including a trot up, nerve blocks, and flexion tests. However, X-rays or imaging are required for a definitive diagnosis, as tendon or ligament issues can also present in a way similar to
