SPAVIN. 1001 



Here it need only be remarked that the periodical appearance and 

 gradual abatement of lameness during work point to spavin. 



(2) Hip lameness. In these cases lameness is only marked when 

 the limb is carried (swinging leg lameness), whilst in spavin it exists 

 both when the limb is carried and when weight is placed on it. The 

 same applies to — 



(3) Gonitis chronica, in which also there is a marked tendency to 

 stand with the limb flexed. 



(4) Inflammation of the tendon sheath of the flexor pedis at the 

 inner side of the hock -joint. This, however, can scarcely be mistaken 

 for spavin, on account of the marked swelling. 



(5) Tendinitis and tendovaginitis of the flexors of the foot lead, 

 in the hind limb, to pronounced lameness when weight is thrown 

 on the limb (supporting leg lameness), and can be detected by careful 

 palpation. 



(6) Curb is less likely to be mistaken for spavin, because it seldom 

 produces marked lameness, unless when accompanying the latter. 



(7) Spavin lameness is more difficult to differentiate from that 

 due to ring-bone and sprain of the coronet-joint. It should be 

 remembered, however, that, in a hind limb, ring-bone is less frequently 

 followed by great lameness, whilst sprain is usually distinguished 

 by the pain (due to rotation of the joint) which occurs when the animal 

 is sharply turned round. 



(8) The absence of foot lameness is proved by a careful examination 

 of the hoof. 



(9) Double-sided spavin is sometimes difficult to distinguish from 

 mere stiffness. In " worn " horses, which, as a rule, show no real 

 lameness, too much importance should not be attached to the results 

 of the spavin test, nor to the stiff movement. 



Course and prognosis. The nature of the disease explains its 

 chronic course. It is rarely caused by mechanical violence, but as a 

 rule results from slight, continually repeated strain, and, therefore, 

 develops slowly. The first symptom is usually slight sensitiveness, 

 soon followed by lameness, though at this stage no anatomical change 

 can be detected in the joint. Sometimes, however, disease processes 

 are so gradual that lameness is entirely absent during the first stage, 

 and before it develops, bony growth can be detected on the joint. 



Generally, the appearance of the exostosis is preceded by lameness, 

 which gradually increases in severity in proportion as the disease 

 becomes more pronounced. In cases where at first it was only 

 noticeable during the first few steps, it afterwards becomes continuous. 

 Considering the nature of the pathological process, it is scarcely 



