SPAVIN. 211 



comes liable to spavin in consequence of the extra weight 

 thrown upon it. It is produced in hunting Horses by the 

 severe strain and concussion the hock is subjected to by the 

 animal jumping, etc., while carrying a heavy weight. Spavin 

 is often noticed in young animals long before they have 

 reached maturity, and in such a case it is generally due to 

 an hereditary tendency; but it may be produced in the colt 

 by allowing it to run along with the mother while she is 

 being worked on a hard road or hill-side. Improper shoeing 

 — as shoeing with high heels and toes — and concussion from 

 an}^ cause whatever, may be mentioned as exciting causes of 

 spavin. Driving a horse day after day upon hard roads is 

 likely to cause it, particularly if the horse be young or is 

 driven rapidly. Country horses, on being brought in and 

 put to work in the city, have a strong tendency to develope 

 spavin, splint, etc. 



Si/mptoms. — Often two veterinarians, well qualified in 

 every respect, will express conflicting opinions as to whether 

 a horse is spavined. One will pronounce the horse spavined, 

 and the other will declare him free from spavin, and each 

 be perfectly conscientious in his opinion, and certain that he 

 is right. From this the reader may infer that the diagnosis 

 of spavin is not always a matter of ease and certainty ; but, 

 on the contrary, is often a matter of extreme difficulty. 

 Usually, the first symptom to attract attention is slight lamfe- 

 ness, and the animal rests the limb at intervals for some 

 time before more positive symptoms are presented. In ex- 

 amining for a spavin, the eye will be found to afford valuable 

 aid. The animal should be made to stand firmly upon all 

 four of his feet— in some cases it may be necessary to have 

 an assistant hold up one fore-limb, so as to cause the animal 

 to. stand squarely and firmly on both hind-feet ; the fore- 

 foot should also be held up as a precautionary measure, as 

 the horse may be a kicker, or if not, may kick at a total 



