green/blue panic, argentine or dallis grass and buffel grass are at risk. Young horses, hardworking mature horses and lactating mares also have higher risk as they require more calcium. Horses with NSH have a vague, shifting lameness, resulting in stiff and stilted gait, pain on palpation, lethargy, poor body or coat condition, physitis and poor growth in young horses. Horses with severe or chronic cases of NSH show enlargement of the bones, joint problems, osteoporosis, unexplained fracture and severe lameness. Diagnosis is case history, signs & symptoms and dietary analysis. This usually involves measuring phosphorus amounts in . If phosphorus is 8x that of calcium, the horse is likely to suffer from NSH. is a great natural source of calcium. If the horse is a chronic sufferer, NSAIDs and stall rest for a few weeks until the diet is balanced. Horses can return to work on a CEP within a few weeks. Treatment is about correcting the underlying condition. Prevention is ensuring the horse has a balanced diet and that pastures don’t contain plants with oxalates. Prognosis is good for athletic function provided the unbalanced diet was not a long-term situation. In severe or long-standing cases permanent bone abnormalities may develop and a corrected diet maybe too little too late.
Ricketts -
Fracture Introduction A fracture is defined as a
in the continuity if a bone.
Fractures are often related to acute trauma or repetitive trauma though some fractures are secondary to other pathologies such as osteoporosis, infection or tumours.
When a fracture occurs, the break in the continuity of the bone leads to haemostasis and inflammation of the tissue surrounding the fracture site and haemorrhage into the fracture. This causes on the periosteum, perichondrium and other surrounding soft tissue structures. or have had a reduction in weight bearing are predisposed to fracture when they first return to exercise as they may have developed disuse osteoporosis during their period of restricted movement. Poor conformation, incorrect foot balance, improper shoeing, uneven work terrain or extreme age can all predispose for fracture. Horses that have been on Clinically a fracture is seen as severe lameness, reluctance to weight bear, limb deformity, pain on palpation of the site of fracture, heat and swelling of the area surrounding the fracture, visible or palpable loss of continuity in a bone and .
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