Bone spavin most commonly involves which joint?

Bone spavin most commonly involves which joint?

• A. Tarsometatarsal joint
• B. Stifle
• C. Distal intertarsal joints
• D. Fetlock

Answer: (C)

Bone spavin is degenerative disease of the hind hock joints, with the distal intertarsal joints being the most commonly affected. These joints bear the main weight and transmit propulsion forces during movement, so they endure repetitive loading, flexion–extension, and shear from everyday work. Over time this stress drives cartilage wear and osteoarthritis, leading to bony changes, swelling, and lameness characteristic of bone spavin. The stifle is a knee joint and the fetlock is farther forward in the limb, so they are not the typical sites for this hock-specific problem, while the tarsometatarsal joint can be involved but the distal intertarsal joints are most commonly implicated.

Bone spavin is degenerative disease of the hind hock joints, with the distal intertarsal joints being the most commonly affected. These joints bear the main weight and transmit propulsion forces during movement, so they endure repetitive loading, flexion–extension, and shear from everyday work. Over time this stress drives cartilage wear and osteoarthritis, leading to bony changes, swelling, and lameness characteristic of bone spavin. The stifle is a knee joint and the fetlock is farther forward in the limb, so they are not the typical sites for this hock-specific problem, while the tarsometatarsal joint can be involved but the distal intertarsal joints are most commonly implicated.