178 



NON-SPECIFIC OR GENERAL DISEASES 



Fia. 46. — A large bone apavia. 



The predisposing causes 

 are of the greatest impor- 

 tance. A spavin is one 

 of the unsoundnesses of 

 horses that maj be trans- 

 mitted to the offspring. 

 Young colts that have 

 heavy bodies and are fed 

 a fattening ration are pre- 

 disposed to it. Crooked 

 hind limbs, small hocks 

 and quarters that are 

 heavily muscled are pre- 

 disposing factors. The ex- 

 ternal causes are strains 

 caused by slipping, turn- 

 ing quickly, rearing, pull- 

 ing heavy loads and kicks. 

 Horses three or four years 

 of age if given work that 

 favors hock strain, such as 

 excavating cellars, may 

 develop a spavin. 



The symptoms or lame- 

 ness are more character- 

 istic than in most diseases 

 of the limb. At the very 

 beginning of the inflam- 

 mation, and sometimes for 

 several months afterward, 

 the lameness is intermit- 

 tent and disappears with 

 exercise. After a time it 

 is pennanent. It is char- 



