Spavin, << SPAV uhn, >> is a common name for two unrelated diseases that affect the hocks of horses. The hock is the ankle joint of the hind leg. Bone spavin, or true spavin, is a bony growth usually on the inner, lower part of the joint. It is caused by a lack of certain minerals in the bones. Bog spavin is a swelling of a capsule of tissue of the main joint. It is believed to exist at birth and seldom causes trouble. The two diseases are seldom curable. But bone spavin can be treated, often by corrective shoeing of the horse, to end lameness and to keep the growth from enlarging.
