Lameness

Most causes of lameness fall into the following categories:

Degenerative e.g. degenerative joint disease (DJD, or osteoarthritis)
Developmental e.g. osteochondrosis (OCD), physitis (epiphysitis)
Metabolic e.g. laminitis (founder), exertional rhabdomyolysis (tying up)
Mechanical i.e. overload of a structure - either sudden, massive overload or repeated, marginal overload (wear & tear)
Infectious e.g. foot abscess, infected wound, cellulitis, joint infection
Inflammatory - most of the specific causes of lameness have an inflammatory component
Traumatic i.e. injury (external trauma)

Each horse will undergo a thorough exam with gait analysis, flexion tests, nerve and joint blocks as needed. Lameness evaluations are performed both in the clinic (were we have at our fingertips advanced diagnostic imaging both digital radiography and ultrasonography) or in the field for the initial examination. Arthroscopy is available for intra-articular evaluations (see surgery: arthroscopy). We also offer specialty lameness treatments such as IRAP and Tildren.

IRAP�
IRAP therapy utilizes your patient�s own blood and natural healing mechanisms. The patented IRAP syringe produces autologous conditioned serum (ACS), which contains active quantities of anti-inflammatory and regenerative cytokines.
How does it work? The IRAP syringe contains specially treated glass beads that stimulate the white blood cells to produce the anti-inflammatory and regenerative cytokines. The whole blood is incubated overnight and then centrifuged to collect serum. The serum produced is then re-injected into the patient.
Has it been tested? The patented IRAP therapy has been used safely and effectively in thousands of horses around the world. In a controlled study at Colorado State University*, results indicated that there was significant clinical and histologic improvement in osteoarthritis-affected joints of horses following treatment with ACS, compared with placebo treatment. Horses treated with ACS had significant clinical improvement in lameness, unlike the placebo group. IRAP therapy has been used to treat a variety of inflammatory conditions: Joint lameness,Tendon and ligament injuries, and Muscle injuries. Information provided by Dechra Veterinary Products.

Tildren
Tildren is a drug for arthritis licensed for use in horses in Europe,and available to veterinarians in the U.S. through special licensure.It has been used in Europe for many years to treat navicular disease and can treat multiple sites of osteoarthritis using an intravenous drip. In addition to treating navicular disease it has also been used to treat horses with hock pain.To learn more about lameness in horses please click the following link: http://www.acvs.org/AnimalOwners/HealthConditions/LargeAnimalEquineTopics/LamenessInHorses/