Muscle Wastage in Horses: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Muscle wastage in horses, or muscle atrophy, is when a horse loses muscle mass over time, often along the topline, hindquarters, shoulders or neck. Common causes include poor nutrition, lack of exercise, ageing, pain or injury, neurological problems, specific muscle diseases and long term illness. Signs are visible loss of muscle, changed body shape, weakness, poor performance, uneven muscle development and behavioural changes like reluctance to work. Diagnosis usually needs a veterinary check with a physical exam, blood tests, diet review, neurological tests, imaging or a muscle biopsy. Treatment targets the underlying cause and supports rebuilding with better nutrition, controlled exercise and rehabilitation, physiotherapy and medical treatment where needed. To reduce risk, make sure horses get balanced feed, regular exercise and turnout, correct saddle fit, dental care and parasite control, and monitor body condition often. Contact a vet for sudden or unexplained muscle loss, asymmetry, lameness, weakness or if muscle loss continues despite good care.
