Bone Spavin.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 8097, 23 March 1905, Page 7

Bone Spavin.

This is a disease of the hock. This joint like the knee, consists of many bones, and may be said to have four articulations. That formed by the lower end of the bone of the thigh and the uppermost bone of the hock is called the true hock joint, and admits of extensile motion. The articulations below this admit of simply gliding motion, and even this becomes slighter as we pass downwards; hence, the motion existing in the lower articulation, that between the lower surface of the inferior bones of the joint and the upper ends of the canon bones is very slight. Bone spavin consists in inflammation being set up in the cancelled tissue of the bones, extending to the compact tissue and articular cartilage, destroying the latter, and throwing out an exudate, which becomes converted into bone, and uniting the bones involved into one. As a result "of this process, a greater or less enlargement appears on the joint, usually on the lower portion towards the front and inside, but any part of the joint may be involved, and, as' a consequence the enlargement may appear in any position. In some cases, particularly when the true hock joint becomes involved, no enlargement is present. This is called an occult, or blind spavin, and as a rule the lameness is permanent and incurable.

On the other hand, it is not uncommon for a spavin of considerable size to appear without being accompanied by lameness. The lameness of bone spavin is usually characteristic. In the earlier stages the horse will usually stand sound, but if asked to stand over in the stall in the morning, or after having stood quiet for a variable length of time, or asked t> move forward under similar conditions, he will go quite lame, usually stepping on the toe for a few steps. He will go lame for a variable distance, a few steps or a few rods, or further, gradually or quickly getting better, until all lameness disappears, after which he will probably go sound until allowed to stand cgain. At the same time, if he makes a mis-step, or strikes his toe against a stone, he is liable to go quite lame for a few steps. When the disease becomes more advanced, he will probably stand lame ; that is, he will rest the lame leg a great deal, and if this continue for a long time the muscles of the leg and hip will be noticed to become smaller from the want of function; but even in this stage, lameness will in most cases disappear on exercise. The severity of the symptoms, and the probability of a cure being effected, depend upon the articulations involved rather than upon the size of the enlargement. In young horses, blistering will sometimes effect a cure, but in most cases it saves time, trouble, and expense, to fire and blister first. No treatment will remove the enlargement; when the lameness disappears, a cure is then said to be effected.

The predisposition to bone diseases is in most cases hereditary, due either to peculiarities of conformation or congenital predisposition of ossific inflammation, either of which is transmitted to the progeny by either sire or dam; hence the necessity or advisability of breeding to or from sound parents. — Rural World.