What causes bog spavin in horses?
What causes bog spavin in horses?
What causes bog spavin? There are a number of causes, but most commonly bog spavin is caused by osteochondrosis in young horses. Other causes include biomechanical stresses, for example conformational faults such as straight hocks, sickle hocked or cow hocked; lameness in another limb; intense training.
Would you buy a horse with bog spavin?
Simply having a bog spavin does not preclude a horse from upper-level dressage or other elite competition. But it might signal a weakness, previous problem or injury, and therefore a horse that has a bog spavin should be carefully examined to determine the cause.
What is a boggy hock?
Description. Bog spavin is a condition where a soft swelling occurs on the medial surface of the hock joint resulting from excessive fluid within the joint capsule. It is usually seen as two distinct swellings, one on the back and the other on the front of the hock joint.
Does bog spavin cause lameness?
Bog spavin is a swelling of the tibiotarsal joint of the horse’s hock which, in itself, does not cause lameness.
What is the difference between bog spavin and bone spavin?
Bone spavin involves the joints and the bone, and it’s usually osteoarthritis. Bog spavin is extra fluid in the upper joints of the hock. And that can be also associated with osteoarthritis or inflammation for another cause in that joint.
Can you ride a horse with bone spavin?
It is best for a horse with bone spavin to be exercised daily. Preferably, this should be ridden or driven work, as lunging exercise places uneven stress on the joint. Pasture turnout may not be beneficial if the horse does not move much.
What causes fluid in hocks?
A clearly defined bubble that is visible on the front, side, and inside of the hock (bog spavin) indicates excessive fluid in the top, high motion joint of the hock. It can be caused by injury to that joint including fractures, osteochondrosis, or joint infection.
How do you treat bog spavin in horses?
Treatment will depend upon the underlying cause. Many horses with bog spavin do not require treatment. Rest and anti-inflammatory treatment such as phenylbutazone (bute) and topical anti-inflammatory gels can be useful in the early stages.
How long does it take for bone spavin to fuse?
Generally, fusion takes six to nine months to develop and, at most, 65% of treated horses are able to return to some work. An alternative means of fusion is to inject a chemical called sodium moniodoacetate (MIA) into the joints.
How do you treat bone spavin in horses?
Can bone spavin be treated? Treatment for bone spavin, being a form of arthritis, aims to reduce pain either by reducing inflammation or reducing movement in the joint(s). In some cases there is a good response with anti-inflammatory medication such as phenylbutazone, while continuing exercise.
What does fluid in the hock mean?
What is bog spavin and what does it mean?
Bog spavin is a term applied to a disorder which applies to the development (or lack of) of the cartilage and bone in the tarsal (or hock) joint. This disorder is most common in young horses and is a result of inflammation which interferes with the development of the joint, either inherited or acquired.
What are the causes of bog spavin in horses?
Causes of Bog Spavin in Horses. The enlargement or swelling has no bone involvement, it only involves the synovial membrane which is a membrane that lies within and surrounds the hock joint that permits smooth and flexible movement of the joint.
How long does bog spavin need to be rested?
The horse may need to be rested for four to six weeks. In some cases, applying a pressure bandage is helpful. Adding vitamins and minerals to the diet may relieve bog spavin if it is caused by a nutritional deficiency.
What does spavin mean in a horse’s Hock?
Spavin in Horses. ‘Spavin’ is a common condition in ponies and horses of all ages. There are two forms of spavin – bone spavin and bog spavin. Both affect the hock. Bog spavin is excessive fluid in the largest of the hock joints. This can result in slight or severe enlargement of the hock. One or both hocks may be affected.