Physical examination of horses with back pain

The diagnosis of hack pain is often a diagnosis of exclusion of other probl ems in the face of poor performance. It requires careful observation, thoug ht, an open mind, and experience. The signs of back pain can be extremely v ariable and range from subtle to obvious. Obvious forelimb or hind limb lam eness is not usually a sign of back pain. The most common differential diag nosis may be back pain secondary to degenerative joint disease of the hocks , fetlocks, or stifle. These diseases can mimic signs of back pain includin g lack of impulsion, shortening of the stride length, and change in the str ide character similar to those seen with back pain.