Ringbone

As shell a chronic joint disease ( osteoarthritis ) is called the toe joints in ungulates, particularly in horses. It usually manifests itself in a lameness on one or more legs. In the early stages, the disease manifests in a soft tissue swelling and increased body heat in the affected area. The diagnosis can only be secured by an X-ray examination.

Formation

The shell develops after a trauma (such as an injury from a strong impact of the hoof ) or a strain of the tissue in the area of the tethered - Kron - or coffin bone. We distinguish articular shell with new bone ( osteophytes ) at the fetlock or pastern joint ( " high shell " ) or at the distal interphalangeal joint ( "deep dish ") and extra-articular cup, when it comes to inflammatory changes in the joint environment.

Therapy

If the disease is treated before a conditional by the disease of abnormal bone growth occurs, treatment is usually in the affected legs three to four months to support by a fixing bandage and thus immobilize simultaneously. The horses often receive a horseshoe with a strong toe direction to additionally restrict the joint movement. If you already have developed new bone, rest and anti-inflammatory medications can help reduce the symptoms caused, but a regression same no longer takes place. Lameness caused by the disease is usually so long, until a complete joint fusion has occurred. With a positive outlook may be indicated to accelerate the treatment process an operational joint stiffness.