can anyone spot a spavin in an xray?

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Abacus

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I'd be grateful for anyone who can read x-rays especially if they know what a spavin looks like.

I recently had a horse vetted and my vet thought there was a spavin developing on the right hind; I walked away but the owner had it x-rayed and his vet claimed that it was soft tissue. Both vets are well known locally and are reputable. I was on the verge of buying the horse but got my vet to look at the x-rays first, and he has said that he is sure there is evidence of a spavin although the x-rays are of poor quality.

My gut feel now is to walk away again, but I am curious enough to want to know who is right and if this lovely horse really does have a spavin... Is anyone on here able to tell? I am having trouble posting pictures but could email them.

Thanks.
 
If they are poor quality x rays could you not ask for clearer ones to be taken, by an independent vet? It seems to be a buyers market at the moment so if the seller wants to sell the horse I'd have thought they'd agree if it's the kind of horse you'd expect a purchaser to want to have 5 stage vetted / x rayed.
 
If you like the horse, get your vet (that you use regually and presumably for that reason trust) to x-ray again. It can be really difficult to read another practices x-rays, everyone has different ideas about what is suitable to be diagnostic ! It would be a shame to miss out on your ideal horse for the sake of a couple of hundred quid extra - equally, for the sake of a couple of hundred quid, you could save yourself a fortune in the long term....

The more people you speak to, the more different answers you will get - and the more confused you will become - so stick with one vet that you trust (and your gut instinct!!!)

good luck :)
 
I'm a radiographer - you wouldn't really be able to see the soft tissue only bony anatomy. My cob has a big spavin on one hind and another smaller one just developing and it was easily recognisable
 
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