STRINGHALT

Stringhalt is an abnormal gait that involves exaggerated flexion of one or both hock joints, resulting in a rapid elevation of the hind limb.

The abnormality might be subtle--such as minor upward jerking of the hind leg, or so severe that the canon bone and fetlock are pulled violently against the horse's belly. 
The gait abnormality generally only occurs at the walk and is not present at other gaits. 
Some horses with stringhalt have difficulty backing. 
Horses with very mild disease may only demonstrate stringhalt when backing.

Stringhalt should be differentiated from upward fixation of the patella, fibrotic myopathy, shivers, and other mechanical causes of lameness.

The long digital extensor muscle (usually in the hind limb) is the muscle that appears to be the most affected by this condition.
The location of neuromuscular lesions in Australian stringhalt may be explained by the susceptibility of longer, larger myelinated nerve fibres to injury.
Distal axonopathy occurs most severely in the longest nerve in the horse

Treatment

Horses affected with this condition rarely recover without surgical intervention, although there have been some instances where horses have recovered without treatment.
The recovery time in affected horses can range from three months to three years. Horses may be affected so severely that euthanasia is necessary
The majority of horses affected by stringhalt are dependent upon pasture for nutrition.

Lateral digital extensor tenectomy has also been used as a treatment by veterinarians with a success rate of just over 50%.

Posted by equinevet