Site Accessibility Features: Skip to page menus
Site Menus Section Skip to page content
Site Accessibility Features: Skip to page menus
Site Menus Section Skip to page content
The musculoskeletal system allows your horse to move around in their environment. The anatomical design of the bones and muscles of the horse reflect the unique needs of the species.
Abnormalities of the musculoskeletal system include injuries (acute or chronic) and/or conformation problems.
o Congenital: Angular limb deformities, Clubfoot
o Acquired: Knock knees, Bow legged, Cow-hocked; Upward fixation of the patella
o Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD)/Osteochondrosis: Shoulder; Stifle; Hock
o Osteoarthritis develops in overly stressed joints over time. Bucked shins. Splints. Bone Spavin.
o Patellar chondromalacia
o Forelimb: Humerus; Radius/Ulna; Carpus; Metacarpals; Splint bones; Sesamoid; First phalanx; Second Phalanx; Third Phalanx; Navicular bone
o Hindlimb: Femur; Patella; Tibia; Tarsus, Calcaneus; Metatarsals; Splint bones; Sesamoid; First phalanx; Second Phalanx; Third Phalanx; Navicular bone
o Spine: Cervical; Thoracolumbar; Sacrum; Coccyx
o Corns, Cracks, Quittor, Sheared heels, Sidebone
o Laminitis (Founder)
o Sole abscess, bruise
o Forelimb: Bicipital bursitis, Sweeney, Superior check ligament strain, Bucked shins, Suspensory Ligament Desmitis/Rupture, Inferior Check Ligament Desmitis, Bowed tendons, Sesamoiditis, Chronic proliferative synovitis, Osselets, Ringbone, Pedal osteitis, Buttress foot, Navicular syndrome/disease
o Hindlimb: Hip dislocation; Round ligament rupture; Whorlbone lameness (Trochanteric bursitis); Myopathy: fibrotic and ossifying; Meniscal Tears (stifle); Peroneus Tertius Rupture; Thoroughpin (DDF tenosynovitis), Curb (Tarsal Plantar Desmitis); Cunean Bursitis; Bog Spavin; Stringhalt; Capped hock; Hock dislocation
o Spine: Sacroiliac dislocation
o Myositis: bacterial, viral
o Exertional Rhabdomyolysis (Monday Morning Sickness)
Surgical intervention may be needed in some cases of musculoskeletal disease. Recovery from musculoskeletal disease or injury requires a combination of pain management, farrier work, exercise restriction, rehabilitatitive care, and nutritional evaluation.
Site Sidebar: Skip to end of sidebar
Browse By Species
Pet’s ER in Salisbury, MD Phone: (410) 543-8400 Address: 402 Punkin Ct, Salisbury, MD 21804
Delmarva Animal Emergency Center Phone: (302) 697-0850 Address: 1482 E Lebanon Rd, Dover, DE 19901
We accept Care Credit you can apply online or pay online here.
© 2025 Coastal Veterinary. Provided by Patterson | Powered by LifeLearn WebDVM