Glossary Index

A lameness diagnosis is the process of working out what is causing the discomfort, movement change or lameness. It helps turn worry and guesswork into a clearer plan for treatment, rest, rehabilitation or further investigation.

A diagnostic block, or nerve block, uses local anaesthetic to temporarily numb a specific area. If the horse moves better afterwards, it helps your vet narrow down where the pain is coming from.

Diagnostic imaging uses scans or images to look inside the body and help identify what is causing lameness. Examples include X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, CT, scintigraphy and PET, depending on what your vet needs to investigate.

The digital pulse is a pulse that can be felt in the lower leg near the foot. A stronger pulse can be a clue that the foot is painful or inflamed, but it does not give a diagnosis on its own.