Equine DJD Diagnosis

Does the horse's history or clinical, laboratory or arthroscopic examination show:

• Wide based stance?
• Poor performance?
• Intermittent lameness, stiffness or changes in gait?
• Joint capsule thickening or synovial fluid distention; joint crepitus?
• Pain and inflammation; possible evidence of severe damage,i.e., dark, watery synovial fluid usually represents severe intra-articular damage?
• Change in joint surfaces or margins?
• Reduced range of motion?
• Pain and/or joint laxity?

In horses exhibiting equine degenerative joint disease, the following may occur:

• Progressive cartilage deterioration in the synovial joint
• Loss of articular cartilage and its components
• Fibrosis of the joint capsule
• Changes in the normal bone architecture
• Loss of joint mobility and joint space
• Inflammation of synovial membrane with associated pain
• Change in joint fluid with loss of HA and impaired lubrication