Steps in Thorough Equine Lameness Exams

Phillip Kapraun
Aug 31, 2018 · 2 min read

Practicing veterinary medicine since 1984, Dr. Phillip Kapraun focuses on treating lameness in performance horses in the Harvard, Illinois area. Active in the professional community, Phillip Kapraun, DVM, is a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP).

The AAEP summarizes the process for evaluating equine lameness on its website. Assessing lameness in a horse is a multi-step process. After completing a thorough medical history, a veterinarian performs a standing exam to observe the horse’s posture and appearance, and palpitates any specific areas that indicate pain, swelling, or heat.

Next, the veterinarian performs a movement exam, watching the horse’s gait when trotting. If problem areas are noticed, the doctor may use a flexion exam, which involves putting pressure on certain joints for a length of time before releasing it and observing changes in the gait. Other ways to assess lameness may involve hoof testing, which puts pressure on specific spots on the hoof to look for a pain response, and nerve and joint blocks, which numb different areas in succession to find the location of pain.

After determining the likely area of pain causing lameness, veterinarians may use different kinds of imaging technology to get a clear look at the site and determine the best method of treatment.

Phillip Kapraun

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