A CT (computed tomography) scan is becoming a more familiar part of equine veterinary care, but for most of us, it sits in a grey area: more than the X-ray we're used to and less familiar than the MRI we have vaguely heard of. Here is a plain-language look at what a CT does, when…
Arthritis literally means ‘inflammation of the joint’. Most horses, especially older horses, will have some degree of arthritis present in their joints. Arthritis is very difficult to avoid, but preventative treatments can be of benefit and arthritis can be successfully managed once it has arisen, to slow its progressive course. About joints Most joints are made…
Q: When is a pastern considered too short? Q: The pastern is the area between the fetlock joint and the top of the hoof, and consists of two bones: the long pastern bone, or first phalanx, under the fetlock joint, and the short pastern bone, or second phalanx, which joins with the coffin bone, the third…
Q: My friend's horse has been diagnosed with a fractured pelvis, yet the horse is not having surgery. Is this normal? A: Pelvic fractures are challenging to handle in horses, not just because of the horse's size but because of the heavy muscling and tissue that surround the pelvic area. This makes surgical intervention such as…
