Surgery and Radiology Section

DEFINITION

• The complex responses that maintain animal’s normal, upright position are known as postural reactions.
• If an animal’s weight is shifted from one side to the other from front to rear or from rear to front.
• The increased load on the supporting limb or limbs requires increased tone in the extensor muscles to keep the limb from collapsing.
• Two major types of postural reactions are used for assessment.
• The first consisting of Hopping, wheel barrowing and extensor postural thrust, require movement of limb to correct for displacement of the body.
• The second including proprioceptive positioning and placing are usually performed with some support of the animal’s weight.
• Therefore, weakness has less influence on performance. Both types of reactions are useful.
• The postural reactions are
  • Proprioceptive positioning reaction and Wheel barrowing reaction
  • Hopping reaction and Extensor postural thrust reaction
  • Hemi standing and hemi walking reaction and Placing reaction
  • Tonic neck reaction