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Discussion on Pre purchase radiographs of young horse
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Member:
caymie
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 - 12:20 pm:
Hi Dr. O.,
Do you think there is some value in radiographing a young horse during a pre-purchase exam, to find out whether the horse may have DOD, since it may not become an issue until the horse is put into work? Would you be concerned about purchasing a four year old warmblood that has an OCD lesion in the hock as well as juvenile bone spavin? Only the hocks have been radiographed so far. Have you ever seen cases of juvenile bone spavin that do not cause problems later in the horse's life?
Thanks,
Mary
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Mar 29, 2007 - 8:43 am:
Hello Mary,
The general concepts of the value of radiographs in predicting problems are tough issues that we discuss in the following articles:
- Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Joint, Bone, Ligament Diseases » OCD and DOD in Horses
- Horse Care » Routine Horse Care » Prepurchase Exam of the Horse
- Diseases of Horses » Lameness » The Interpretation of Radiographs
For specific information on the prognosis of OC lesions based on it's location in the hock see Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Upper Rear Limb » Overview of Diseases of the Hock (Tarsus).
Yes I would be concerned about such developmental abnormalities as it is hard to know their significance but the few cases of juvenile degenerative changes in the distal two tarsals I have seen were sound: apparently the joints had fused prior to birth since there was no history of lameness. The decision to purchase will mean taking these issues and facts then applying them to your goals.
DrO
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