Glossary Index

CT, or computed tomography, is an advanced X-ray technique that creates detailed cross-sectional and 3D images. It can help vets assess complex bony areas or injuries that may not be fully clear on standard X-rays.

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.

Farriery is professional hoof care, including trimming and shoeing. Foot balance and support can play an important role in some lameness cases, and your vet may work closely with your farrier as part of the plan.

A flexion test is when your vet holds a limb in a flexed position for a short time, then watches the horse trot away. It can make some sources of discomfort more obvious and guide the next stage of assessment.

Forelimb lameness means lameness affecting one or both front limbs. Vets may look at how the horse carries their head, shoulders and weight to help identify front-limb discomfort.

A fracture is a break or crack in a bone. Some fractures are obvious emergencies, while others need imaging to detect. Severe, sudden or non-weight-bearing lameness should be treated as urgent.

Gait means the way a horse moves, such as walk, trot or canter. Lameness may show as a change in rhythm, stride length, balance, weight-bearing or how the horse uses a limb.

Gait analysis is careful assessment of how the horse moves, either by a trained eye or with measurement tools. It helps turn "something feels off" into clearer information your vet can use.

Heat means an area feels warmer than usual, often in a limb or hoof. It can be a clue for inflammation or injury, especially alongside swelling, pain or lameness, but it does not diagnose the cause.