Treatment for cervical vertebral malformation

There are limited treatment options for horses with CVM (‘wobblers’), however, the options available do have favourable success rates in the appropriate individuals. Primary treatment options include injection of arthritic cervical articular process joints, and intervertebral fusion. Nonsurgical treatments including dietary restriction (socalled ‘paced growth diet’), hyaluronic acid injections, acupuncture, etc. have poor success in most cases. For horses less than 1 year of age, changes in management and diet may influence further progression or development of lesions. These include restricted activity, and a diet that restricts carbohydrate and protein. Advocates suggest that this programme reduces bone growth and enhances remodelling and enlargement of the vertebral canal. Evidence for this conclusion is lacking, however, and there is little evidence that the changes are not due to time and natural differential growth ...