Very Common
You also might be observing
Observation
What you see. The starting point for addressing any equine health related issue is your observation.
YOU ARE OBSERVING
Muscle Tone Poor, Muscles Seem Soft
Summary
Generalized poor muscle tone is often found in poorly conditioned, confined horses or in horses that are debilitated, in chronically poor health, or are harboring infection. Localized muscle loss in one area often may be attributed to an injury, but can also result from specific illness. Horses with loss of nerve supply to an area may have very poor muscle tone in that area.
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Code Yellow
Contact Your Vet at Your Convenience for an Appointment
your role
What To Do
Evaluate your horse's general health, looking carefully for other abnormalities or signs of illness or disease, and share your findings and concerns with your vet. Your vet may suggest that they examine the horse and evaluate their management.
Skills you may need
Procedures that you may need to perform on your horse.
your vet's role
Your vet begins with a physical exam. Blood work and other lab work may be helpful to get a sense of general health. They may perform an exercise test, in which they assess the horse's fitness level.
Questions Your Vet Might Ask:
- What does the horse do for exercise?
- Do you notice any other signs of a problem?
- What is the horse's body condition?
Diagnoses Your Vet May Consider
The cause of the problem. These are conditions or ailments that are the cause of the observations you make.
Treatments Your Vet May Recommend
A way to resolve the condition or diagnosis. Resolving the underlying cause or treating the signs of disease (symptomatic treatment)
