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  Discussion on 2 yo with bog spavin after OCD operation
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Member:
cathyb1

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 - 10:24 pm:

Hi Dr. O,
I've read all the stuff on bog spavins etc. I have a 2yo colt who had OCD in one hock. He had never been lame, but xrays showed up OCD in one hock and so we operated when he was 14 months old. He is now 25 months old, has still never been lame, but has a bog spavin that comes and goes. I had him xrayed recently, to check that all was well before I started breaking him in. Xrays were clear, and the previous OCD had healed well. I started breaking him in (he is a very quiet warmblood - so far, very easy to train and easy to deal with) a couple of weeks ago. After some rain, I was lungeing him, and he had a bit of a leap and a buck in a damp spot, and his legs went out from underneath him. Since then, the bog spavin has been quite large, and showing on both sides of the joint. That is when I took him to be xrayed, but, as I said, the xrays were clear, and all looked good. He isn't lame; he moves exceptionally well, and is very happy in the short work sessions that we have. Is it possible that there is a problem lurking within the joint still, that doesn't show up on xrays? Should I be concerned? Should I try a hock boot, to apply pressure to the joint capsule that is so swollen? Would this have any long term effect, or only as long as you are applying the boot? Should I keep on working him? Am I doing damage working him while the bog spavin is so big?
Wow, what a lot of questions. Sorry! But he is a very well bred horse, and moves like an angel, and I am a bit wary of the possibility of totally wrecking him; also, of falling in love with a horse that is destined to be unsound! My vet suggested that we could drain the swelling and inject it with something, if the bog spavin bothered me for cosmetic reasons. But would that be making complications unnecessarily?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jan 4, 2008 - 6:43 am:

Hello Cathy,
Some of your questions will require an examination and others a crystal ball so the questions about your specific case should be directed at your veterinarian. However we can talk about bog spavins in general. I can say it is most likely that the recent exacerbation is likely do to trauma-stretching of the joint capsule that is producing excessive synovial fluid.

Your major questions about treatment are answered in the article in this topic but let be expound upon them a bit since you have gone over them. I think it is important to attempt to control the acute increase in swelling before the capsule stretches further. Though bog spavins are generally not painful, large tight ones do effect movement and appearance. I do like neoprene hock boots for this though often they need padding to increase the pressure over the distended joint capsule and prevent chaffing on the back of the Achilles tendon. See the article for more on treatment. You should not work this horse until you have the acute swelling under control.
DrO
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