Spinal Problems in Horses

when compared with his previous level of performance.
When any of these signs develop in a horse it is important to rule out physical discomfort as a cause of poor performance. Having a thorough veterinary assessment to achieve an accurate diagnosis is crucial to determine the best course of treatment for the individual horse. The goal of this article is to describe some common equine spinal problems that may be encountered by the horse owner and how they are best treated to get the horse back on track.
CASE STUDY 1
The Cervical Spine Wobbler Syndrome
The neck or cervical vertebrae represents the first area of the axial skeleton where abnormalities can develop. The cervical region is amazingly similar across all mammals shrews humans giraffes and horses all have seven vertebra! While the length and anatomy obviously varies significantly among these species the function of the spine in this area remains the same to provide structural support for carriage of the head and provide a protective tube for the spinal cord as it travels to the body. 
While there are several conditions affecting the neck area one significant spinal issues we see is wobblers.
Wobbler disease is a common name for a specific condition called cervical vertebral malformation or CVM. This vertebrae malformation results in spinal cord compression. While all breeds are represented in case reports of wobbler syndrome Thoroughbreds are the most commonly affected breed with some studies estimating up to two percent of horses being affected to some degree. Both females and more often males are affected by this condition.
Typically this problem is characteristic of young rapidlygrowing horses less than two years of age. Clinical signs may not be apparent until the horse is several years old however a careful neurological examination can often detect subtle abnormalities that are present early in the course of the disease. While often attributed to young foals or yearlings just being clumsy or learning where their feet are specific movements under different postures may be needed to differentiate the normal unpredictable acrobatics of an excited yearling from the early stages of wobbler syndrome. Additionally the age of clinical onset will vary with the specific type of wobbler disease the horse has.
The abnormal proprioception the ability to detect where you are positioning your body feet and legs gait movements and balancing reactions seen with wobbler syndrome come from spinal cord compression. Generally we do not see any overt
pain at the site of spinal cord compression. Over time this compression does eventually cause some tissue damage and inflammation which itself can be painful but the abnormal movements of the horse are from direct interference with normal functioning of the spinal cord signals. Other causes of neckregion related lameness may absolutely be accompanied by pain including soft tissue damage and facet joint arthritis.
As a veterinarian listening to the presenting complaint of the owner or trainer is one of the most valuable parts of the visit. Astute knowledgeable owners spend the most time with the horse and their history will often present that golden nugget of information if we listen carefully. This rings true with wobblers history as the syndrome often presents as two distinct forms of the disease static or dynamic. 
With static CVM there is compression of the spinal cord in a specific area that causes clinical signs regardless of the neck position. Most commonly this occurs in the lower neck involving the vertebral joints C5C6 or C6C7. Nerve deficit symptoms are noticed even when the neck is in a neutral position and are not typically worsened during flexion or extension of the neck.