Equine tetanus commonly presents with which clinical sign?

Equine tetanus commonly presents with which clinical sign?

• A. Lameness with stiff gait
• B. Sores and ulcers
• C. Coughing and nasal discharge
• D. Saw horse stance

Answer: (D)

Tetanus toxin disrupts normal inhibitory control in the spinal cord, causing generalized muscle rigidity and spasms. In horses, this manifests most famously as a sawhorse stance, where the animal stands with the hind limbs braced, neck arched, and back rigid. This distinct posture reflects the widespread, sustained muscle contraction produced by the toxin and is the classic clinical sign of equine tetanus. Other signs listed would point to different problems—sores and ulcers to skin issues, coughing and nasal discharge to respiratory disease, and a stiff gait from general stiffness may occur but does not produce the characteristic sawhorse posture seen with tetanus.

Tetanus toxin disrupts normal inhibitory control in the spinal cord, causing generalized muscle rigidity and spasms. In horses, this manifests most famously as a sawhorse stance, where the animal stands with the hind limbs braced, neck arched, and back rigid. This distinct posture reflects the widespread, sustained muscle contraction produced by the toxin and is the classic clinical sign of equine tetanus.

Other signs listed would point to different problems—sores and ulcers to skin issues, coughing and nasal discharge to respiratory disease, and a stiff gait from general stiffness may occur but does not produce the characteristic sawhorse posture seen with tetanus.