Which statement accurately describes how to palpate for proximal suspensory desmitis in a standing horse?

Which statement accurately describes how to palpate for proximal suspensory desmitis in a standing horse?

• A. Palpate the lateral aspect of the hind fetlock and evaluate hoof color.
• B. Palpate the dorsal aspect of the coffin bone and listen for crepitus.
• C. Palpate the medial aspect of the proximal metacarpus, and assess warmth, swelling, and pain on deep palpation over the proximal suspensory region.
• D. Palpate the axillary region.

Answer: (C)

Palpation over the medial side of the proximal metacarpus, directly over the proximal suspensory region, is how you assess proximal suspensory desmitis in a standing horse. You should use deep, firm palpation and look for warmth, swelling, and a clear pain reaction when the tissue is pressed. Comparing to the opposite limb helps distinguish normal variation from true inflammation. The other described maneuvers don’t target the suspensory ligament area—checking hoof color, listening for crepitus at the coffin bone, or palpating the axillary region—so they don’t provide the relevant information for PSD.