Navicular syndrome is known to be a problem of soundness in horses that can be cured if early diagnosis and treatment is done. It is a disease that affects the bones causing inflammation and degeneration to it and the surrounding tissues usually on the front feet. In advanced cases, it can lead to significant and even disabling lameness. Navicular pain in horses is thus a common condition in horses that can be controlled.
Diagnosis of the disease can be done by looking at both radiographic and clinical signs. This means that a veterinarian can tell there is a problem by looking at x-rays of the hoof area was well as direct observation in a physical examination. These x-rays are however the most efficient as they help rule out other possible causes of this pain.
There are obvious signs that the veterinarian needs to be keen and watch out for. Limping that is caused by shifting all the weight from the heel to the toe because of the pain, a painful response when hoof testers are used on the middle third of the frog and finally the presence of long toes resulting in under run heels which usually causes the disease.
Many horses with navicular syndrome are lame in both front legs but will appear to be lame on one leg in their first examinations. This is because, when one leg has its nerves blocked, it will begin to limp with the opposite leg thus over working it. This sign should be the most important to the veterinarian that the horse has a problem in the navicular bone.
Correct and not corrective shoeing should form the basis for treatment for this syndrome. People who own horses should know the principle of balancing hooves front to back and side to side. In addition, the back of their hoof is supposed to be parallel to their pastern while fore hoof should align parallel to their pastern line.
Long toes that cause under slung can be easily rectified by trimming them away which is the most apparent problem for affected horses. The heel can also be corrected although it is a difficult approach as the shoe must be extended backward to the right location it is supposed to have been if the heels were not worn out which is probably the cause of these complications.
Treatment using drug therapy should also be considered as the second step. The most successful drug used on the condition being lsoxsuprine which dilates blood vessels. This expects that it will increase blood circulation to navicular bone. Reports have indicated that approximately 80% of horses diagnosed with the disease will respond to it.
The other aspect of treatment is exercise as it is the best way to improve blood circulation in the foot. The horse should be trained to bear more weight on the hind legs. Riders use the long and low exercise in an effort to achieve the same. As the horse becomes more used to this habit, the weight bearing will move from the front legs to hind legs thus avoiding pain.
Diagnosis of the disease can be done by looking at both radiographic and clinical signs. This means that a veterinarian can tell there is a problem by looking at x-rays of the hoof area was well as direct observation in a physical examination. These x-rays are however the most efficient as they help rule out other possible causes of this pain.
There are obvious signs that the veterinarian needs to be keen and watch out for. Limping that is caused by shifting all the weight from the heel to the toe because of the pain, a painful response when hoof testers are used on the middle third of the frog and finally the presence of long toes resulting in under run heels which usually causes the disease.
Many horses with navicular syndrome are lame in both front legs but will appear to be lame on one leg in their first examinations. This is because, when one leg has its nerves blocked, it will begin to limp with the opposite leg thus over working it. This sign should be the most important to the veterinarian that the horse has a problem in the navicular bone.
Correct and not corrective shoeing should form the basis for treatment for this syndrome. People who own horses should know the principle of balancing hooves front to back and side to side. In addition, the back of their hoof is supposed to be parallel to their pastern while fore hoof should align parallel to their pastern line.
Long toes that cause under slung can be easily rectified by trimming them away which is the most apparent problem for affected horses. The heel can also be corrected although it is a difficult approach as the shoe must be extended backward to the right location it is supposed to have been if the heels were not worn out which is probably the cause of these complications.
Treatment using drug therapy should also be considered as the second step. The most successful drug used on the condition being lsoxsuprine which dilates blood vessels. This expects that it will increase blood circulation to navicular bone. Reports have indicated that approximately 80% of horses diagnosed with the disease will respond to it.
The other aspect of treatment is exercise as it is the best way to improve blood circulation in the foot. The horse should be trained to bear more weight on the hind legs. Riders use the long and low exercise in an effort to achieve the same. As the horse becomes more used to this habit, the weight bearing will move from the front legs to hind legs thus avoiding pain.
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