What does a string of horses mean?

What is pseudostringhalt in horses?

Pseudostringhalt. Affected horses appear normal at the lull period but have a characteristic involuntary hyperflexion of the hock when moving. The disorder can vary in severity from a slight exaggeration of regular movement to a motion wherein the hindfoot strikes the belly. The leg may remain flexed for a few minutes.

What is stringhalt gait?

Takeaways 1 Stringhalt is a neuromuscular condition that causes a gait abnormality characterized by exaggerated upward movement of one or both of the hindlimbs. 2 There are two major categories of stringhalt: acquired and idiopathic. … 3 Clinical signs of stringhalt can arise suddenly and range from mild to severe. More items…

How can you tell if a horse has stringhalt?

It is easily recognisable because the horse will tend to lift and maintain the hindlimb in excessive flexion and kind of ‘jump forward’ and slam it down. Stringhalt is most obvious when a horse is walking forwards and backwards and in many cases will disappear at higher speeds.

What is equine stringhalt?

Equine stringhalt. Stringhalt is the name given to a clinical condition of horses characterized by extreme exaggerated flexion of the hindlimbs. It has been recognized for many years to occur in sporadic and epizootic forms, the latter associated with the grazing of certain plants, notably Hypochaeris radicata.

Can Botox cure stringhalt in horses?

Australian stringhalt is caused by the consumption of toxic weeds in the pasture. Thus, your horse can recover some months after you withdraw the weeds from the pasture. On the other hand, classic stringhalt may be cured or not, particularly in severe cases. However, you can retrain your horse to get around the condition with the use of Botox.

What to do if your horse has stringhalt symptoms?

A horse with stringhalt symptoms may require hospitalization to provide it with close examination for a number of days. Additional clinical examinations include electromyography (EMGs), diagnostic imaging, and orthopedic workup that offer more accurate diagnoses.

How is stringhalt syndrome diagnosed?

The characteristic hindlimb hyperflexion diagnoses Stringhalt. The condition must be separated from fibrotic myopathy in which the leg is jerked suddenly downward and backward before being kept to the ground.

What are the 4 types of stringhalt?

Still, a causal role for any toxin has not been established. There are four forms of Stringhalt in horses. These are: Unilateral Stringhalt. Bilateral Stringhalt. Sporadic Stringhalt or Australian Stringhalt. Pseudostringhalt.

Why does my horse have a high stepping gait?

Some horses are affected in both hind legs, while others may only be affected in one hind limb. The hindlimb lameness associated with stringhalt could be described a little like “goose-stepping”. This high stepping hind leg gait is due to excessive hypermetria and hyperflexion of the stifle and hock.

What are the symptoms of stringhalt syndrome in horses?

Atrophy of the distal limb muscles may occur in horses with chronic stringhalt. Spasticity, toe scuffing, and stumbling of the thoracic limbs and left laryngeal hemiplegia have been described in some affected horses. 83,84 A distal axonopathy of peripheral nerves has been described. 85,86 The condition can be sporadic or occur in outbreaks.

What is the difference between unilateral stringhalt and pseudostringhalt?

Pseudostringhalt: the apparent result of a painful condition in the affected leg Unilateral stringhalt: cause unknown, but often relieved by section of the lateral extensor tendon Treatment varies. Australian stringhalt was described and differentiated from classical stringhalt in 1884.

What causes nerve damage in horses with Australian stringhalt?

The type of nerve damage sustained in horses with Australian stringhalt suggests a mould toxin ( mycotoxin) or a fungal ‘poison’ found in the soils may be a cause for this condition. Mycotoxins can directly affect the long myelinated nerves in the hind limbs.

How long does it take for a horse to recover from stringhalt?

The recovery time in affected horses can range from three months to three years. Horses may be affected so severely that euthanasia is necessary. It is unknown how long it takes for clinical signs to develop after the exposure to the cause of the condition. The majority of horses affected by stringhalt are dependent upon pasture for nutrition.

How do you know if your horse has stringhalt?

The symptoms that you would see in a horse suffering from stringhalt would be: A momentary motion like a jerk, a jump or a hop with the hind leg held up high near the stomach. The movements will be more pronounced when the horse is turning or backing up.

What are the signs of stringhalt in horses?

The clinical signs are usually more extreme when the horse is turning or backing up. Some horses have such severe stringhalt they actually kick themselves in the abdomen when trying to walk.

What are stringhalt and Shivers in horses?

Shivers mimic stringhalt since they both involve the sudden upward flexion of the hind leg when backing and moving off. However, shivers involve muscular quivering of the horse and tail elevation when making that abnormal movement, but it doesn’t hit the ground hard.

Can you ride a horse with stringhalt?

Although stringhalt is not a response to pain and your horse may not be uncomfortable, it’s still not wise to ride on it or engage in aspects like dressage. Stringhalt in horses is basically an outward sign that the animal is suffering from a neurological disease.

Can anesthetic cause stringhalt in horses?

Rarely, local or epidural anesthesia can result in interference with nerve signals to the LDE, such that the horse develops a case of stringhalt. Regardless of whether it is an idiosyncratic reaction to anesthetic, or direct contact of anesthetic with a nerve root, the result is the same – spastic movement of the affected rear limb.

What is Australian stringhalt and how to treat it?

Australian stringhalt is caused by the consumption of toxic weeds in the pasture. Thus, your horse can recover some months after you withdraw the weeds from the pasture. On the other hand, classic stringhalt may be cured or not, particularly in severe cases.

What are the treatment options for stringhalt toxicity?

The treatment options will vary, as one might expect, depending on which type of stringhalt is diagnosed. For the Australian type, removal of the horse from the pasture from which he ingested the toxic plant will be the first step and, perhaps, will be the only action needed.