Withers

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Diagram showing the location of the withers.

The withers is the highest point on an animal's back, on the ridge between its shoulder blades. The height of an animal is measured from the ground to the withers because this distance is fairly stable and predictable when the animal is standing still. Unlike humans, whose heads are in a fairly fixed position when standing upright and looking forward, many animals can move their heads easily into a wide range of positions when standing still, which makes the head a poor location for measuring the animal's height. The term is used primarily for four-legged domestic animals, such as dogs and horses. Inflammation of the bursa in this region is called fisulous withers by veterinary surgeons.

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