Tacoma Equine Hospital

Sports Medicine
Sports Medicine
Evaluation
Keeping your horse sound and performing at its best starts with an accurate diagnosis. Our Comprehensive Soundness & Lameness Evaluation services are designed to identify subtle performance issues, pinpoint the source of lameness, and develop tailored treatment plans. Using a thorough hands-on assessment, diagnostic imaging, and a tailored approach, we evaluate your horse’s gait, joint health, and overall musculoskeletal function. Whether addressing an existing issue or optimizing long-term soundness, our goal is to keep your equine athlete moving comfortably and performing at its peak.
Schedule an evaluation today to ensure your horse stays sound, strong, and competitive.
Maintaining peak performance starts with a sound horse. Our comprehensive soundness and lameness evaluations are designed to diagnose subtle and complex movement issues, helping to identify the root cause of discomfort or decreased performance. Using a thorough hands-on assessment, advanced diagnostic tools, and a tailored approach, we evaluate gait abnormalities, joint health, soft tissue integrity, and overall biomechanics. Whether addressing an existing lameness issue or proactively monitoring your horse’s soundness, we create customized treatment and rehabilitation plans to keep them performing at their best.
Evaluations may include:
Thorough Hands-on Exam
Gait Analysis at multiple gaits
Hoof Testing
Joint Flexion Tests
Longeing
Diagnostic Nerve and Joint Blocks
Digital Radiography
Digital Ultrasound
Recommended Therapies may include:
Comprehensive Rehabilitation Program
Joint Health Medications
Orthobiologic Treatment
Joint Therapies
Acupuncture Treatment
Chiropractic Treatment
Class IV Cold Laser Therapy
Shockwave Therapy
Musculoskeletal Surgeries
Joint Health
Adequan®
Polysulfated glycosaminoglycan is a naturally-occurring complex molecule that is the essential building block of the cartilage matrix. Marketed as Adequan®i.m., this product travels into injured joints and stimulates production of new cartilage while relieving the symptoms of non-infectious degenerative joint disease. Adequan®i.m. treats joint disease, increases lubrication and stimulates cartilage repair while relieving pain, decreasing inflammation, restoring synovial fluid and blocking destructive enzymes.
Legend®
Legend® (hyaluronate sodium) is an FDA approved I.V. and intra-articular therapy to treat equine non-infectious synovitis associated with osteoarthritis. It is a pure hyaluronate sodium, the same glycosaminoglycan present in normal joint fluid. It is produced by a patented biofermentation process, resulting in such purity that it can be given intravenously for immediate bioavailability. Hyaluronate sodium is proven to decrease inflammation and destructive enzymes associated with inflammation.
NexHA™
NexHA™ (hyaluronate sodium) Injectable Solution is an FDA-approved alternative to Legend® for treating joint dysfunction in the carpus or fetlock due to non-infectious synovitis linked to equine osteoarthritis. Administered intravenously, treatments can be repeated weekly for up to three doses and used alongside other joint therapies. Hyaluronic acid, a natural substance found in synovial fluid, helps restore joint lubrication, reduce inflammation, and protect joint integrity, promoting healthier, pain-free movement in your horse.
Zycosan®
Zycosan® (pentosan polysulfate sodium injection) is the first FDA-approved treatment to control the signs of osteoarthritis (OA) in horses, a leading cause of lameness and discomfort. OA, also known as degenerative joint disease (DJD), leads to cartilage deterioration, joint inflammation, and reduced mobility. Zycosan® targets these issues by promoting joint lubrication, supporting cartilage repair, and reducing inflammation. Administered as a simple intramuscular injection once a week for four weeks, Zycosan® helps restore your horse’s comfort and performance.
Joint Therapies
Steroids & Hyaluraonic Acid
Stopping inflammation is key to controlling arthritis progression. Intra-articular cortisone is one of the best treatments for stopping inflammation. The arthritis will continue to progress (because the horse will continue to do athletic endeavors), but the process will slow and the horse will feel better. Adding Hyaluronic Acid to the injection targets the joint capsule, decreases inflammation in that tissue, and helps it to begin secreting more normal healthy joint fluid.
Polyacrylamide Gels: ArthramidVet® & Noltrex®
VetA new treatment, polyacrylamide gel (PAAG), shows promise for improving joint health in horses. Injectable polyacrylamide hydrogel (iPAAG) induces a beneficial inflammation needed for long-term osteoarthritis relief while providing scaffolding for tissue regeneration. PAAG acts as a lubricant and cushion, similar to hyaluronic acid (HA), but lasts longer and doesn't require metabolism. It offers long-term support, particularly for senior horses, without the risks of steroids. There are two PAAG types available: 2.5% (ArthramidVet®) and 4% (Noltrex®Vet). The 2.5% version integrates with synovial cells, enhancing joint elasticity, while the 4% functions as a surface lubricant, reducing friction on cartilage lesions and aiding in cartilage healing.
Orthobiologics
Orthokine® vet irap
Orthokine® vet irap (Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Protein) offers the opportunity to effectively treat lameness of your horse utilizing the body’s own healing mechanisms. It is an excellent non-cortisone therapy for joints and soft tissues and can be used for arthritis, traumatic soft tissue damage, and for post-surgical reduction of inflammation and adhesions. The irap therapy is based on the production of regenerative and anti-inflammatory proteins by the horse’s own blood cells. After processing, the resulting “Autologous Conditioned Serum” (ACS) is injected into the affected joint or inflamed tendon sheath. Three injections over a course of six weeks is recommended to achieve full effect.
Learn more about Orthokine® vet irap
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) & ProVet® APC
PRP is used to help heal wounds, bones, and ligaments/tendons. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a part of the horse's blood that is processed to concentrate platelets for injection into the affected area. PRP primarily consists of platelets, which are small non-nucleated cells that are rich in growth factors and chemokines that help attract white blood cells to infections.
Pro-Stride® APS
Joint pain can be caused by pro-inflammatory cytokines damaging cartilage. A natural alternative to traditional treatments, Pro-Stride® APS creates a concentrated solution from the horse’s own blood that contains cells, platelets, growth factors, and anti-inflammatory proteins that, when injected into the joint, helps relieve pain and restore joint balance. Pro-Stride® APS is effective for osteoarthritis, synovitis, and tendon injuries.
Learn more about Pro-Stride® APS
RenoVō® : Equine Amniotic Allograft
RenoVō® is a regenerative therapy using amniotic tissue from healthy mares for equine injuries. It contains growth factors, cytokines, amino acids, hyaluronic acid, and extracellular matrix proteins essential for healing. This cryopreserved liquid allograft promotes healing and reduces scar tissue without living cells that cause inflammation. It effectively treats soft tissue injuries, joint disease, non-healing wounds, and corneal ulcers. Collected safely by veterinarians during mare births, RenoVō® is minimally invasive and can provide results comparable or superior to other treatments.
Mesotherapy
Mesotherapy is a simple procedure that uses intradermal injections to help relieve neck and back pain in horses. It involves putting a mixture of diluted medications into the skin's middle layer via 200–300 fine needle injections in three rows alongside the horse's spine. These injections help block pain signals from nerves in the skin and can promote muscle relaxation and healing.
The number of sessions needed varies by condition, generally range from one to three. Milder issues may only need one treatment, while more serious pain might require sessions every 2–4 weeks.
Shockwave
Shockwave therapy, or extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), is a non-invasive treatment that uses sound waves to help horses recover from injuries and reduce pain. It employs high-energy sound waves to boost blood flow and activate the body's healing process. These waves target the injured area, promoting new blood vessel growth and tissue repair. ESWT can address various issues like tendon injuries, arthritis, back pain, muscle tears, and ligament injuries.
Before the procedure, the horse is sedated, and the treatment area is shaved and cleaned. A gel is applied, and the shockwave device sends sound waves into the skin. Each session lasts 15–20 minutes and is done 2–3 times every 2–4 weeks.
Laser
Class IV Laser therapy is a non-invasive, effective treatment that promotes healing in horses with injuries, chronic conditions, or aging effects. Laser therapy enables faster tissue repair, quicker wound healing, and significant pain relief, while reducing inflammation and enhancing blood flow for better oxygen delivery. It also improves lymphatic drainage, nerve function, and muscle relaxation.
With benefits like scar tissue reduction and immune support, Class IV Laser therapy provides a holistic approach to equine health, offering acupuncture-like stimulation and targeting specific issues.