RADIOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF THE DISORDERS OF THE FORELIMB PHALANGES OF NIGERIAN TRADE HORSES AT OBOLLO-AFOR, ENUGU

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the disorders of the forelimb phalanges of Nigerian trade horse using radiographic techniques and to determine if there are sex-related predispositions to the radiographic disorders of the phalanges. Thirty-five (35) Nigerian trade horses at Obollo-Afor horse market between the ages of 5-10 years were used for the study between April and June 2018. After clinical examination, lateral and dorsal radiographic examination of the phalanges of horses that presented with foot related forelimb lameness was carried out. The collected data were subjected to descriptive statistics and association between sexes was analyzed using Chi-square. Statistical significant was accepted at p < 0.05. In the thirty five horses with forelimb foot-related lameness, 19 were males and 16 females. Ten (10) horses had luxation of
the phalanx, 7 sidebone, 3 bone cyst and 2 Osteosarcoma. The distribution of the forelimb phalanges disorders were more in the males (34.3%) than in the female horses (28.6%) but showed no significant association with sex. In conclusion all the assessed disorders of the phalange precipitated evidence of clinical signs of lameness in both male and female horses.