Bone Spavin
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Inflammation of one or more bones located
between on the inside of the hock joint. Can lead to arthritis. Early stages
will be extremely painful - late stages less so as the joint surfaces fuse
together.
Caused by: joint stress from concussion on hard surfaces, quick & sliding
stops such as those which occur during roping and reining. Mineral
deficiencies Poor confirmation.
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Bog Spavin
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Soft spongy Bursal enlargement of the hock joint capsule.
Located towards the front inside of the hock joint.
Caused by: bang or blow to the joint, wear and tear from work on hard
surfaces. Poor confirmation and possible vitamin & mineral imbalance while
horse is young.
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Bowed Tendons
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Inflammation and in severe cases even rupture of the
sheath encasing the tendon from the knee to the fetlock. One or both the deep
flexor tendon and superficial flexor tendons on one and/or both front legs
may be affected.
Caused by: severe trauma and over extension of the
one of more of the tendons. Insufficient conditioning, fatigue and possibly blow
to the leg.
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Capped Hocks
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Bursal Enlargement - up to the size of a tennis ball on the
point of the hock.
Caused by: a blow or bang to the point of the hock -
usually from horse kicking a wall or from lying down on a hard concrete surface.
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Capped Knees
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Acute inflammation (bursal
enlargement) or bruise of knee joint (carpitis) and/or the tendon that runs over the front
of the knee.
Caused By: Blows to the knee joint from a fall or from animal
banging its knees on a feed manger. Stress on the joint from over work and
poor confirmation. Poor conformation.
* Damage to the joint capsule: If caused by a fall the joint capsule could be
damaged allowing synovial fluid to leak out into the surrounding
tissues. Open knees wounds may need veterinary attention.
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Curbs
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Inflammation on the upper rear of the cannon area just
below the point of the hock
Caused by: Bang or blow the back of the leg - possibly from kicking the
wall. Stress and trauma from a violent extension of the Plantar
Ligament.
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Jack Spavin
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A bony growth that can irritate tendon that lies
over the inside hock. Can be very painful when the hock is flexed or
bent.
Caused by: a bang or blow to the joint. Stress or trauma. Poor conformation.
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Knee Spavin
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Bony growth at back of knee on inner side. Not very
common.
Caused by: Joint stress, trauma from a blow.
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Osselets - Green
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Inflammation of the joint capsule in the front of the fetlock joint is referred to as "green"
osselets.
Caused by: Excessive racing of young horses while joints
are still developing.
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Osselets - True
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Bony growth at the front of the
fetlock joint.
Caused by: late stage development of "green osselets"
that were not allowed to heal.
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Sesamoiditis
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Inflammation of the bone above and at
the back of the fetlock joint.
Caused by: Blow, Bang or trauma to the
back of the fetlock joint.
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Shin Splints or Bucked Shins
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Inflammation of the membrane that
covers the Shin bone (cannon bone).
Caused
by: Concussion - especially in young horses.
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Speedy Cut
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Injury do to striking the inner and lower side of the knee
with the inside toe of the opposite hoof. Caused by: poor conformation, occasional
erratic movement of limbs during turnout or exercise.
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Splints
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Bony enlargements (sometimes up to the size of a half golf
ball) usually on the inside of the front legs just below the knee.
Sometimes multiple smaller bumps running down between the Splint and Cannon
bones. Most often on forelegs but can occur on hind legs.
Caused by: poor conformation, rapid growth, trauma or striking the leg with the other
hoof.
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Sprained Ankle
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Affecting one or more of
the ligaments the support the fetlock joint.
Caused by:
stress to the ligaments of the joint from over extension.
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Sprained Suspensory Ligament
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Inflammation and strain of the
suspensory ligament the runs down from the knee and wraps around the fetlock
joint.
Caused by: stress and trauma to the ligament from over extension
and fatigue.
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Stocking Up
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Fluid retention in the lower limbs.
Caused by: poor circulation due to lack of exercise and overfeeding of
grain. Some horses legs will fill if confined to a stall or trailer after
strenuous exercise. May or may not indicate initial kidney problems. Some horses are predisposed to stock up.
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Thoroughpin
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Bursal enlargement of the deep digital flexor tendon
sheath in hollow area between the back of the hock joint and the point of the
hock.
Caused by: stress to the tendon from over exertion, over extension
and trauma to the tendons and joint. Poor conformation of the hock joint.
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Wind Puffs or Wind Galls
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Soft "spongy"
swellings around the back, front and or side of the fetlock joint. The
inflamed joint capsule distends with additional synovial fluid in an
effort to protect against injury.
Caused by: joint concussion, excessive work while horse
is young & joints are still developing, stress & fatigue due to intense
work load on the joints.
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