Common Blemishes
and Unsoundness
In this section we will look at a few common blemishes and unsoundness.
Learn the terms and be able to realize them when you see them.
Locations of Common Blemishes and Unsoundness
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Common Blemishes and Unsoundness (See
figure for locations) |
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Term |
Description |
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Bog spavin (11) |
A soft filling of the natural depression of the hock due to distension of
the joint capsule. Located on the inside and to the front of the hock. |
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Bone spavin (12) |
Heritable trait which leads to lameness. Is a bony enlargement on the
inside and to the front of the hock, where the base of the hock tapers into
the cannon bone. |
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Bowed tendons (6) |
A thickened enlargement of any one or all of a group of tendons and
ligaments (usually the superflexor tendon, deep
flexor tendon and suspensory ligament) which occupy
the posterior space in the cannon region between knee and fetlock joint or
between hock and fetlock joint. Most commonly seen on the front legs. |
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Capped hocks, knees and elbows (Shoe boil) (5) (15) |
Swellings located on the point of joints which are caused by injuries
that result in excess synovial fluid secretion. |
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Curb (16) |
An enlargement just below the point of the hock due to ligament injury. |
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Fistula (3) |
An inflamed condition usually associated with the withers region. |
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Forging |
A defective way of travel where bottom of forefoot is struck by the toe
of the ipsilateral hind foot during stride. |
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Founder (19) |
Also called "laminitis." A serious ailment of the fleshy
laminae. Exact causes unknown, but is associated with overeating, overwork or
uterine inflammation following foaling. |
|
Heaves |
Respiratory ailment characterized by forced exhalation. |
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Hernia (9) |
Protrusion of an internal organ through the wall of containing cavity. Generally
associated with intestinal protrusion through abdominal muscle. |
|
Parrot Mouth (2) |
Overshot jaw (incisors meet improperly). |
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Poll-evil (1) |
An inflamed condition associated with the poll. |
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Ring bone (17) |
Bony enlargement near coronary band which may involve pastern joint or
coffin joint. Usually associated with
injury (stress) and poor conformation. |
|
Side bone (8) |
An ossification of the lateral cartilage usually seen in front feet.
Generally associated with excess stress or concussion and poor conformation. |
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Splint (7) |
A calcification between the splint and cannon bones induced by injury or
stress. Generally seen on inside of front legs. |
|
Stifled (10) |
Dislocation of patella which causes for fixation of leg in an extended
position |
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Sweeney (4) |
Atrophy of shoulder muscles due to paralysis of supracapsular
nerve. |
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Toe & Quarter Cracks (13, 18) |
A split in the toe or quarter area of the hoof wall. |
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