Animal Aches

I work with all kinds of animals, but pain issues for equines are unique and deserve special mention.

Being herd animals, the pain of horses can be more difficult to identify than most, so their suffering may go unnoticed, especially in the early stages. This isn't just a communication issue, it's a survival instinct. Herd animals must hide pain as much as possible to escape the notice of predators looking for easy prey.

Identifying subtle signals of equine pain is critical because horses seem less tolerant of pain than most other animals (with some variation; draft horses and Tennessee Walking Horses seem more tolerant than Thoroughbreds, for example).

Age is also a significant factor in equine pain. Many senior horses show less clear responses to abdominal pain; seniors experiencing colic pain are often suffering much more than obvious on first examination.

For performance horses, pain may be indicated in:

• Being slow out of a starting gate
• Rushing fences and refusing to jump
• Swishing the tail, ears held flat back, grinding teeth and tossing head
• Inability to round the back and/or neck
• Intermittent subtle lameness

Loss of appetite can be an indication that a horse is hurting, though that may also be attributed to the high fitness level of competition horses.

Other general signals of equine pain include:

• Increased heart rate, respiratory rate, or temperature
• Lying down and getting up more than usual
• Reluctance to move
• Sensitivity when being groomed or manual pressure applied
• Stiffness
• Dislike of being tacked up
• Changes in behavior such as unexpected bucking, rearing, or napping
• Regular shifting of weight
• Muscle spasms
• Uneven wear on shoes
• Vocalization
• Increased stall walking
• Sweating
• An odd posture, especially one that takes weight off one or two limbs

An increased heart rate is also often used to gauge the severity of colic; a colicky horse with a heart rate over 80bpm is likely to wind up in surgery.

In arthritic horses, DJD (Degenerative Joint Disease) is progressive, particularly after age 15. Metabolic changes after that point result in increased cellular degeneration on many levels, including skeletal, tissue and cartilage issues. As with elderly humans, horses are less able to flex tendons and more likely to experience breaks and inflammation due to aging.

Some things to watch for in horses suspected of being arthritic:

• A stiff or choppy gait after a suitable warm up has taken place.
• Look for joint puffiness, particularly in the joints in the lower legs on a daily basis, particularly after exercise.
• Give your horse a visual and physical inspection of the joints each day. The best time to do this is approximately an hour after moderate exertion has occurred.
• Watch for hesitance in your horses usual activities. Also be particularly aware if your horse pulls back from such activities.

Of course, if you suspect any of the above to apply to your equine, you should consult with your veterinarian for a full examination. The above should not be construed as veterinary advice, as I am not qualified to diagnose or treat medical conditions in people or animals.