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Equine Lameness and Diagnostics Flashcards

7 cards from real NAVLE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Equine Lameness and Diagnostics flashcards as text

  1. A horse with chronic forelimb lameness shows 'pointing' at rest — standing with the affected limb extended cranially. This posture is MOST commonly associated with:

    Answer: Navicular syndrome

    Pointing at rest is a classic postural sign of navicular syndrome, as the horse reduces weight on the heel to relieve pressure on the navicular apparatus.

  2. Soft tissue swelling along the dorsal aspect of the fetlock with pain on palpation of the dorsal pastern in a young racing Quarter Horse is MOST suggestive of:

    Answer: Fetlock synovitis

    Fetlock synovitis with joint effusion presents as dorsal soft tissue swelling and pain on palpation, commonly seen in young performance horses under heavy training loads.

  3. Which grading scale is the standard used in the United States to assess equine lameness severity?

    Answer: AAEP lameness scale 0-5

    The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) 0-5 lameness scale is the standard used in the US, with 0 being sound and 5 being non-weight-bearing.

  4. During lameness examination on the lunge, a horse with LEFT forelimb lameness will characteristically:

    Answer: Nod the head UP when the left forelimb strikes

    With a painful forelimb, the horse lifts (nods up) the head when the painful limb contacts the ground to reduce load, and nods down on the sound limb.

  5. Ultrasonography reveals a core lesion in the body of the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in a sport horse. The MOST appropriate initial treatment is:

    Answer: Controlled rest with hand-walking rehabilitation program

    Core lesions of the SDFT require controlled rest and a graduated hand-walking rehabilitation program to allow fibrous repair while minimizing further damage.

  6. A horse presents with acute onset of severe bilateral forelimb lameness, leaning back on the hindlimbs, and bounding digital pulses. The MOST likely diagnosis is:

    Answer: Laminitis

    Acute laminitis classically presents with bilateral forelimb pain causing a characteristic saw-horse stance, bounding digital pulses, and reluctance to walk.

  7. What is the PRIMARY purpose of measuring the palmar angle of the distal phalanx on a lateral radiograph in a horse with laminitis?

    Answer: To assess the degree of rotation and aid in corrective shoeing

    The palmar angle of P3 on a lateral radiograph quantifies the degree of coffin bone rotation relative to the hoof wall, guiding corrective trimming and shoeing to restore proper alignment.