Understanding The Navicular Disease In Horses: Diagnosis And Management
When the horse owner suspects the navicular syndrome as the cause of lameness in their horse, they often go into the mode of fear. In fact, some people even shy away from the horse, making it look like it is suffering from some contagious diseases. It is important to understand that the navicular disease in horses is not terminal and most horses that are diagnosed with this condition are able to be brought back to their previous performance with proper management of the condition.
It is most common in the forelimb but can also occur in the hind feet. Normally, the lameness is just slight or moderate and it is on the rare occasion where the lameness gets severe. It is a disease that is more common with the horses than the ponies. In addition to this, it is most noticed in the horses that have the typical thoroughbred-like foot conformation such as long toes, or low and collapsed heels. The other risk facts include work that involves lots of jumping as well as lots of road work.
In order to diagnose this syndrome, one needs to look at the forelimbs of the horse. More often than not, the horse will normally have mild lameness at the forelimb. This may be noticed at different limbs at different times. The anti-inflammatories and rest may provide a short time solution as the problem reoccurs later on.
There is no particular cause of the condition as several factors can contribute to the diseases. In the same way, it is rare to find one treatment procedure that is successful. Bute is widely used as it is known to reduce pain as well as inflammation, particularly in the early stages of the syndrome.
Other risk factors include the horse breed. The quarterhorse breed and the thoroghbreds are at higher risk than other horses as their legs are smaller as compared to their big bodies. The signs are more likely to be noticed from the age of 7 to 14.
However, the best option to differentiate the possible causes of foot lameness is the selective nerve blocks, although it is still associated with a few limitations. As such, most experienced veterinarians usually use a combination of radiographs and the nerve blocks techniques.
The other common alternative is the use of corrective shoeing particularly when the condition is chronic. This involves trimming each of the affected shoes to conform to particular needs. The shoe types used include the rolled toe shoe, the wide web shoe, the Tennessee navicular shoe, the slippered hell shoe, and the egg bar shoe among others.
However, the steroids are used particularly when it is suspected that the origin of the pain is from the coffin joint or the navicular bursa. This is far from the cure as it only reduces inflammation but does not cure the underlying pathology problems. The other treatment includes administration of isoxcuprine hydrochloride, use of an anticoagulant, corrective shoeing techniques and neurectomy for chronic cases.
It is most common in the forelimb but can also occur in the hind feet. Normally, the lameness is just slight or moderate and it is on the rare occasion where the lameness gets severe. It is a disease that is more common with the horses than the ponies. In addition to this, it is most noticed in the horses that have the typical thoroughbred-like foot conformation such as long toes, or low and collapsed heels. The other risk facts include work that involves lots of jumping as well as lots of road work.
In order to diagnose this syndrome, one needs to look at the forelimbs of the horse. More often than not, the horse will normally have mild lameness at the forelimb. This may be noticed at different limbs at different times. The anti-inflammatories and rest may provide a short time solution as the problem reoccurs later on.
There is no particular cause of the condition as several factors can contribute to the diseases. In the same way, it is rare to find one treatment procedure that is successful. Bute is widely used as it is known to reduce pain as well as inflammation, particularly in the early stages of the syndrome.
Other risk factors include the horse breed. The quarterhorse breed and the thoroghbreds are at higher risk than other horses as their legs are smaller as compared to their big bodies. The signs are more likely to be noticed from the age of 7 to 14.
However, the best option to differentiate the possible causes of foot lameness is the selective nerve blocks, although it is still associated with a few limitations. As such, most experienced veterinarians usually use a combination of radiographs and the nerve blocks techniques.
The other common alternative is the use of corrective shoeing particularly when the condition is chronic. This involves trimming each of the affected shoes to conform to particular needs. The shoe types used include the rolled toe shoe, the wide web shoe, the Tennessee navicular shoe, the slippered hell shoe, and the egg bar shoe among others.
However, the steroids are used particularly when it is suspected that the origin of the pain is from the coffin joint or the navicular bursa. This is far from the cure as it only reduces inflammation but does not cure the underlying pathology problems. The other treatment includes administration of isoxcuprine hydrochloride, use of an anticoagulant, corrective shoeing techniques and neurectomy for chronic cases.
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