#SUDDEN LAMENESS IN HORSES HIND LEGS SKIN#

Too much selenium can lead to hoof cracks.Īn open fracture with bone poking out of the skin is an obvious injury, but others are less obvious and may be more difficult to diagnose. Too many carbohydrates can lead to rhabdomyolysis, otherwise known as shivers and Monday Morning Disease. Omega-3 fatty acids provide hoof resilience and prevent hoof cracks. Zinc, biotin, copper, and protein are needed to strengthen hooves. Too little or too much of certain nutrients can lead to many problems that may cause a horse to become lame. In some cases it may be so severe that the horse needs to be euthanized. When a horse is lame on a hind leg, it can fool you into thinking the horse is lame on the front leg on the same side. It can be caused by a sudden increase in grain consumption, pregnancy, hormones, obesity, infections, and drinking cold water too quickly. Laminitis, otherwise known as founder, is a result of the bone in the foot losing its connection with the hoof wall and rotating or sinking within the hoof. Some examples of infections that cause ataxia are tetanus, West Nile Virus (WNV), rhinopneumonitis (rhino), and Equine Protozoal Myelitis (EPM). You might be thinking about a wound that becomes infected, which can certainly cause problems, but there are many different kinds of infections that can cause horses to lose their balance (ataxia) and affect their ability to walk normally and become lame. Navicular syndrome is a term for many problems affecting the navicular bone, which may have many different causes. There are many different structures in the hoof that can cause heel pain, such as the suspensory ligament of the navicular bone, the impar ligament that connects the navicular bone to the back of the coffin bone, and other collateral ligaments. The body naturally repairs the cartilage in joints after normal wear and tear, but excessive wear can overwhelm this process, leading to stiffness and diminished range of motion, which can ultimately lead to a lame horse. Most often lameness originates in the lower part of a limb: the foot or fetlock. Otherwise known as arthritis, Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) is common in equine athletes. Look for a wound, swelling or an area that is hotter than normal. Here are 6 common causes of lameness in horses.

Sudden lameness in horses hind legs