My horse's shoulder twitches after exercise. What should I do?

Soreness in a horse's back is definitely not uncommon, particularly as they get a little older and if they are using inappropriate tack. There are several things that can be done in order to address pain. I would not attempt to "crack" her back without having some measure of expertise in equine chiropractics. Chiropractics and acupuncture are both valuable tools for helping horses but only in the hands of a skilled practitioner. Other options would include anti-inflammatory medication like banamine, phenylbutazone, or previcox. These are all prescription drugs that would require the approval from a veterinarian. Lastly, one thing you should do regardless of your choice is to stall rest delilah for the next few days. Give her back some time to settle down in case there is any spasming. Hope this helps!

This could be a sign of laminitis, a hoof abscess, inflammation or arthritis of the joints, tendinitis, etc. You will need to make an appointment with your equine vet for an exam. The least your vet will give or prescribe is pain medicine and anti-inflammatory medicine, If there is an abscess or infection your horse will also need antibiotics.

Hello and thank you very much for your question. Crepitus, or crackling sounds, can be normal for a horse and is not necessarily indicative of pain or arthritis. This occurs with aging. Because there does not seem to be pain upon jumping or movement, I see no reason not to continue this eventing. One thing I would recommend, however, is to talk to your local veterinarian about putting you on a prescription strength glucosamine chondroitin or hyaluronic acid supplement to keep your horse moving pain-free. These have no side effects and research shows that they work quite well in delaying or preventing future joint issues. Thanks a lot for your question. I hope I have helped.

I'm glad to hear that Rocco is still energetic as ever. In terms of things you can do to help with Rocco's discomfort, you might want to consider limiting the type of exercise that causes this kind of pain. As Rocco gets older, his joints may not be as well lubricated as they once were and he may even be experiencing some onset of arthritis. This can be verified with a physical exam and/or x-rays of the affected joints. Though you have indicated this only seems to happen after significant exercise, it might also be worth checking for tick borne diseases that can cause shifting leg lameness. Even though it doesn't seem likely in this case, if that were causing this it would be easily treatable. As for things you can do actively to treat the discomfort, I would consider starting Rocco on a joint supplement and/or fish oils. They will help lubricate the joints and reduce the affect of osteoarthritis long term. Pharmaceuticals available for the treatment of pain and inflammation in dog are extensive and variable. Some are generalized anti inflammatories, opioid pain killers, and some that address neuropathic pain. Other treatment modalities to address discomfort and inflammation include laser therapy, acupuncture, massage, and certain types of therapeutic exercises. The first thing you need to do though is have Rocco examined to rule out any sort of injury. Once that is determined, you can move onto treatment and prevention. Hope this helps.

Without knowing why she is lame I see no indication to put her down. It is quite possible that this lameness is not related to the former injury. This could be a simple hoof abscess or a minor lameness that can be overcome with stall rest. I suggest you contact your veterinarian for an exam and then discuss options with him. 17 is not old age for a horse yet. Your horse should have many good years ahead of her.

It sounds like she may have some pain in her hips if she tends to shake her legs when the hips are extended. Consider a glucosamine joint supplement, and keep her at a healthy weight-- short to medium walks are great if she tolerates them well. An underwater treadmill is also a great way to get in some good exercise and keep the leg muscles strong. You can also train her to do "sit to stand" exercises, which are essentially squats. When done regularly, these exercises can be very helpful in building and maintaining muscles of the hips that help keep them comfortable and mobile. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i2DofIWDxI Thank you for asking PetCoach!

If she's not eating, she's eating painful, colicky, or both. Take a heart rate if you know how to do this--normal is 20-40 beats/minute. If it's higher than this, she's painful and needs to see a veterinarian. If she is rolling, looking at her sides, or not passing manure, she needs to see a vet as these are signs of colic. If you really think she's resting her hocks, then they are sore, and she needs xrays to see what kind of arthritis is going on and what steps you need to take to make her more comfortable. Hope that helps!