Category: Bones and Joints

𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐲𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐚 means short (brachy-) mouth (gnath-). Usually this term refers to shortening of the 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 (lower jaw), however it can also refer to shortening of the maxilla (upper jaw).

𝐑𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐚𝐰 is one of many possible consequences of 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞, and results in jaw bones that are unusually soft and malleable, like rubber! This condition is more scientifically known as 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐝𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲.

Today’s case is of a 16 year old gelding who presented for lameness in both front feet.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐬 are exactly as described: twins that are fused together at some point on their body. They have been reported throughout history, with cases even documented in medieval paintings!

𝐇𝐢𝐩 𝐝𝐲𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐚 is an extremely common condition in large and giant breed dogs, and results in 𝐥𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐭𝐲 (looseness) of the hip joints.

𝐊𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 is more accurately known as 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬. This is a big long term that basically means the dorsal spinous processes, the long bones sticking out of the top of the vertebrae, begin to contact each other. This can be very painful!

𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚 is an increased number of limbs! This condition is a form of 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, where an otherwise normal structure is made too many times.

𝐒𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐲 is caused by 𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧 𝐂 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 and is one of the most common management-related diseases in guinea pigs!

CHD is a syndrome of foals primarily characterized by enlarged thyroid glands and deformities of the limbs. This syndrome was first described in Western Canada by one of my current professors. Small world!

𝐎𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬 literally means “stone bone”, and is a condition where the 𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬, cells that normally break down bone tissue, are defective. Because of this defect, boney tissue begins to take over the bone marrow cavity.