SPECIES: Horse
BREED: Sella Italiano
GENDER: F
AGE: 11 years
NAME: Fulmine
Clinical case
The horse presented a mild deformation of the palmar surface of the metacarpal region of the right forelimb.
The clinical examination revealed moderate oedema, heat and pain on palpation of the metacarpal region.
The gait examination revealed grade 2/5 lameness when trotting in a straight line
Collateral diagnostics
The ultrasound examination revealed oedema with increased volume of the superficial flexor tendon of the phalanges, presence of hypoechoic areas with loss of structure and parallelism of the tendon fibres.
Therapeutic protocol
MLS® Laser Therapy with M-VET device for the first month and a half: three times a week the first week then twice a week for 4 weeks.
- "Oedema" points program + "acute tendinitis" points program on the palmar metacarpal region
- Subsequently MLS® Laser Therapy with M-VET device once every 15 days for a further month with the "oedema" points program + "chronic tendinitis" points program on the palmar metacarpal region
In addition, systemic NSAID therapy for 5 days.
Results
After 60 days, the ultrasound examination shows a clear improvement with a compact and homogeneous fibre structure, absence of oedema, normal tendon in shape and volume with restored parallelism of the tendon fibres.
By Dr Alessandra Pacorini, freelance horse doctor, Bologna - Italy