Ann. Méd. Vét., 2002, 146 (2), pp 113 - 120 Juvenile interphalangeal degenerative joint disease in the ardenner horse : morphometrical evaluation's protocol (part I)LEJEUNE J.P., SCHNEIDER N., DUVIVIER D.H., MICHAUX C., LEROY P., CAUDRON I., SERTEYN D.Abstract :
The observation of a high incidence of juvenile interphalangeal degenerative joint disease in ardenner horses motivated the constitution of a research project at the "Centre Européen du Cheval de Mont-le-Soie" (Belgium). Its aim is to study the morphology of the horse, the conformation of its limbs as well as the potential outbreak and evolution of osteoarthritic lesions. Therefore an investigation method composed of morphometric and radiographic evaluations protocols has been established. The morphometric evaluations protocol presented here enables to characterise first the general morphology of the horse and second the foot, his asymmetries and his connections with the ground. This protocol is applied to 32 ardenner foals of 250 ± 21 days of age. This group represents 9.3 % of the births registered during the year 2000. For general morphometry, different values of the parameters are observed in this group. Only the higher size of the males makes the difference between the two populations (males and females) at this age. The morphometric study of the foot points out a widening of the external part of the hoof and an angle foot/ground too high in comparison with the established standards. Asymmetrical heights of hoofs quarters are also observed. Get the PDF Contact person : jph.lejeune@student.ulg.ac.be |