Lameness Evaluation & Treatment
Maintaining & Restoring Soundness
Lameness can indicate a variety of issues, from abscesses, inflammation, or arthritis to fractures, tendon injuries, and infection. Accurate localization and diagnosis is the key to positive outcomes. Our experienced veterinarians assess horses from across Northeast Wisconsin and use a variety of diagnostic methods to pinpoint sources of lameness.
Once a diagnosis has been reached, we are able to provide a variety of therapeutic treatments to help manage pain, speed healing, and reduce inflammation and scar tissue.
Our goal is to help your horse recover fully and return to their normal activities as soon as possible while minimizing the risk of further injury.
Therapeutic Treatments for Performance Horses
Great Lakes Equine offers the veterinary services you need to treat injuries and keep your horse performance-ready, including lameness evaluation, regenerative therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture and more. Following your equine partner's lameness examination, our experienced equine vets will recommend the best treatments to address your horse's issue and get their performance back on track.
The Lameness Evaluation Process
A lameness evaluation begins with a comprehensive hands-on examination of your horse in search of pain, heat, or swelling.
As we evaluate your horse, standing and in motion, we will ask you about symptoms and any performance issues you or your trainer have noticed. Flexion tests will be performed to help illuminate subtle signs of pain and irregular movement.
Nerve blocks may be done to help further localize the source of pain. This information then guides recommendations for diagnostic imaging or treatment depending on the severity of lameness and your goals.
Environment Required for Evaluations
The ideal conditions for lameness evaluations change depending on the horse in question. It is important to have a safe, dedicated area with enough space for our vets to work around your horse and perform nerve blocks, diagnostic imaging and more.
For performance horses, we may need a flat, hard surface. An arena is preferred and we may need you to ride your horse so we can evaluate them under saddle, so please have your boots and helmet ready.
For older, geriatric horses or those with severe conditions, we may be able to perform a much more simple evaluation such as watching them walk within a smaller area.
Services Available In-Hospital*
Diagnostics
Reproduction
Internal Medicine
Non-surgical Colic Care
Critical Care
Surgical Services
Regenerative Therapy
24/7 Emergency Care
*Services are available in our Hortonville hospital by appointment. No appointment required for emergencies.
Rehabilitation Services*
Lameness Exams
Diagnostics
Acupuncture
Abscess Care & Treatment
Spinal Manipulation Therapy
Dentistry
Ophthalmology
Regenerative Therapy
Podiatry
*Rehabilitation services are available by appointment and will be performed on your farm.
New Patients Welcome
We are welcoming new patients at Great Lakes Equine. We can't wait to meet you and your horse. Book an appointment today.