#Lame horse meaning skin

Minor fibre damage leads to slight enlargement of the affected part of the tendon which feels warmer than the corresponding area of the opposite limb. First signs of tendon injuryĭamage to a tendon usually results in inflammation which we commonly feel as heat and swelling. If a tendon sheath is involved these can lead to potentially life threatening infection if not dealt with promptly.

#Lame horse meaning skin

Sharp trauma which cuts through the skin can vary from minor tendon damage to partial or full thickness laceration of the tendon. This may form a discrete hole which extends for a variable length of the tendon.Ī knock to a tendon may result in slight bruising or severe damage leading to tendon rupture. Most frequently, a proportion of fibres are damaged in a localised area within the tendon called a zone. The degree of damage can range from minor, with minimal fibre damage to severe with total tendon rupture. Even fit horses which are over stretching tendons in fast work or on unlevel ground or during jumping at speed can damage these structures. Strenuous exercise can result in tearing of fibres especially in unfit horses. Injury to these tendons commonly occurs during exercise. Blood supply to tendons and ligaments are poor compared to muscles and other tissues. The tendons themselves are composed of longitudinally arranged bundles of fibres. Several strong, short annular ligaments help to keep the tendons in place in regions of high movement such as joints. The most commonly recognised sheath is the digital sheath at the fetlock/pastern region with the sheath at the hock called the tarsal sheath and the knee carpal sheath. At the level of the knee and hock along with the fetlock and pastern region the tendons are enclosed by a fluid filled sheath. The SDFT ends on the pastern and the DDFT end on the back of the pedal bone. The flexor tendons which are the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) and the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) run down the back of the limb from the level of the knee/hock. The flexor tendons are the most important structures of which are discussed below.

However the long tendons of the limbs are vulnerable to damage during exercise or as a result of trauma. Most tendons are relatively short and rarely damaged. Tendons are the strap-like elastic structures that attach muscles to the bones of which they act on.