Bone Spavin
Bone Spavin is the end stage of Degenerative Joint Disease. It is more common in teenage or elderly horses and it usually affects the lower 3 hock joints, typically the tarsometatarsal and distal intertarsal joints.
It can be caused by several factors such as; uneven loading, conformational defects, poor trimming or shoeing, repeated loading of lower hock joints such as in dressage and show jumping.
Treatment can involve anti-inflammatories, steroid injections into the joint, bisphosphonates and hyaluronic acid. The changes in the joint are irreversible but it is possible to slow the progression and ease pain.
Regular light exercise, good shoeing and correct management can all prolong the use of the horse.
