Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis
The Degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis (DSLD, suspensory ligament inflammation ) is a degenerative disease in horses . It is a degenerative inflammation of the fetlock . The disease has so far been little researched and is currently not curable.
Occurrence
DSLD can occur in all horse breeds and has been shown in research in the United States in horses of various ages including Arabs, Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Morgan Horses, Paso Peruvians, Paso Finos, American Saddlebred Horses, Warmbloods, Appaloosas, Friesians, Missouri Fox Trotters, Tennessee Walkers , Paint Horses, National Show Horses, Mustangs, Crossbreeds, Mulis and others.
It is believed that the disease is based on a genetic defect and can therefore be inherited. In addition, there are animals that become ill due to severe stress (e.g. racehorses) or early damage to the fetlock. Broodmares and older horses are also at risk. In these horses, however, the disease is not caused by a genetic defect.
Clinical picture
The DSLD cripples the fetlock carriers of the horse. The disease is called degenerative because over the years there is a progressive worsening of the inflammation ( desmitis ) of the fetlock. Both hind legs or both front legs are affected. It is assumed that DSLD damages / changes certain cell tissue and thus leads to permanent inflammation of the fetlock. The process can also be seen as a kind of regression.
For example, at Paso Peruanos one could observe cases in which all four limbs were affected. Most animals become ill at the age of 8 to 13 years and must be euthanized in the following years. In them, the disease does not develop from great stress.
DSLD develops over a longer period of time and therefore has different stages.
Initial stage
At first, the disease often goes unnoticed, as symptoms such as back pain, changes in character, and general stiffness are often confused with other stress factors. Diagnosis at this stage is difficult.
Middle stage
The horses have difficulty standing on three legs. The increasing stiffness with little movement dissolves through this. At this stage the disease is often mistaken for arthritis .
Advanced stage
There is a thickening of the fetlock on all affected legs (some horses show changes in gait towards lameness at this stage). The movement activity often becomes less unnoticed.
Terminal stage
In the final stage, the horses are in a relieving posture in which they strain their healthy legs. You slide z. B. the hind legs forward under the body. For many horses it is only possible to lie down, as any load on the legs causes them pain. They have very clear problems when getting up, and walking is very lameness. The swelling on the fetlocks has increased. Very often a clear sagging of the bondage (permeability) can be seen. If the hind legs are affected, they are straightened in the ankle joint (change in angle). Often the affected animals show a constant change of the hind legs (moving from one leg to the other). Hoof trimming is hardly or not at all possible. The horse should now be put to sleep at the latest!
treatment
There are currently no safe treatments. It is not (yet) possible to predict whether a horse will get sick or not.
Acupuncture and painkillers can relieve pain, but the only way to safely switch off pain is to sever the nerves that are responsible for the transmission of pain to the limbs. However, shutting down or reducing a horse's pain sensation cannot stop the process of DSLD. The horse is only almost painless, but not healthy.
history
The first description of the syndrome comes from Jan Young of Arizona, who wrote an article on symptoms in different races. DSLD was first detected in Paso Peruanos in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
