Muscle Injury in an Equine

Muscle injuries to an equine, or horse, occur in a fairly sizable proportion of horses seen in veterinarian clinics. Several things may cause these injuries, and there are different types of injuries. When one occurs, a veterinarian should do a through examination and, depending on the damage, prescribe treatment. However, many muscle injuries can be prevented.

  1. Muscles

    • Muscles create movement.

      The muscles of an equine surround its skeletal frame and are connected to bones by tendons, which are tough and inelastic tissue. Contraction or extensions of muscles enable the movement of a horse. The flexor muscles contract joints; the extensors extend them.

    Causes

    • Trailer accidents often cause muscle injuries.

      One of the main causes of muscle injuries is overexertion; the horse hasn't been properly prepared with warm-up exercises for the work or routine it is requested to do. Hitting rails or standards when jumping or racing is another cause. Colliding with another horse, falling and trailer accidents are still others. Azoturia, an injury that causes the loin muscle to stiffen to a painful level, is caused by a combination of a high-protein diet with inadequate exercise.

    Symptoms

    • Reluctance to move may indicate muscle injury.

      Symptoms indicating muscle injury include pain when the horse is palpated (examined by touching the muscles); a laceration, or deep or surface cut in the skin; local swelling, including that around an injection site; lameness; and hematoma, or bruising.

    Types

    • There are a variety of equine muscle injuries ranging from lacerations involving the entire muscle group to mild or acute strains to internal damage. "Tying-up" is a painful muscle disorder that usually occurs during exercise and affects large muscles such as those of the back, pelvis and hind legs. It causes stiffness and resistance to movement. Some muscle injuries are caused by an underlying systemic, or systemwide, disease---of the kidney or liver, for instance---or by neurological disorders.

    Diagnosis

    • A veterinarian, particularly one at an equine veterinary center, is the appropriate expert to diagnose a muscle injury. Typically, the veterinarian will take a history of the horse and do a hands-on examination to evaluate muscle mass, symmetry and pain. The horse should be examined as it moves and for lameness. A serum, or fluid, chemistry panel may be taken to evaluate enzymes, which are essential for digestion.

    Prevention

    • One of the best methods for avoidance of equine muscle injury is establishing a regular routine of exercise that does not push a horse past what his conditioning and training have enabled the horse to do. Equally important is the feeding of a horse: it should be consistent and appropriate to the animal's fitness and energy needs.