This reference summarises current practices and teachings on superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injury assessment and management as presented in Diagnosis and Management of Lameness in the Horse, 2nd ed., Chapter 69, “Superficial Digital Flexor Tendonitis,” by...
In a published review of the literature on equine tendinopathies (2004), Roger Smith highlights just how difficult it is to run and publish statistically powerful clinical control trials on tendon injuries, and why anecdotal evidence in the treatment of tendon...
As rehabilitation therapists, assessing movement is a huge part of what we do. Lameness assessment is a part of the evaluation of movement, but it’s not the full picture. It’s a sign of pain and altered biomechanics rather than a diagnosis in itself. Our role is to...
I don’t love that I’m writing about a condition that affects 2 year old racehorses in training, because I don’t think the conditions for this injury should happen at all. But as it does happen, and horses are still brought into training and raced as 2 year olds, and I...
Developmental Orthopaedic Conditions (DODs) are conditions that affect young, growing horses. These conditions can impact the skeletal system, especially the growth plates, joints, and spine, as well as tendons in the distal limbs. As Veterinary Rehabilitation...
Ringbone, splints and windgalls are everyday findings in equine rehab practice. Some are benign adaptations; others signal underlying joint or soft-tissue pathology that drives pain and poor performance. This guide distils what they are, how they present, what to...
Bog Spavin, Bone Spavin, Capped Hocks, Thoroughpin - Hock “puffs and bumps” are common. Some are benign adaptations; others signal joint or sheath pathology that drives pain and performance loss. This article acts as a quick reference for Vet Rehab Therapists to help...
"Years have been added to life; now we must add life to years." – WHO Through advances in veterinary medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle, dogs and cats are living longer than ever. This increased lifespan, however, does not always correlate with an improved...
Trying to synthesise the research available on photobiomodulation (PBM) is overwhelming – at least, if you’re anything like me! There is such a volume of research available on the subject, but many papers don’t share all the parameters they used, making comparison...
Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) can be likened to Alzheimer’s disease in humans. Senior dogs with CCD may experience confusion, anxiety, disorientation and other symptoms that can impair their quality of life. The pathophysiology of CCD involves a series of...