This is a disease that arises from the inflammation of the navicular bone and tissues surrounding the area. It affects the front feet of a horse. As the bone gets subjected to continuous compression, degeneration happens. The cartilage flattens and soon becomes less shock absorbing and springy. The syndrome causes navicular pain on the heel area and eventually leads to lameness in athletic horses.
The pain becomes apparent when the sick horse tends to avoid placing pressure on the bone by transferring pressure to the toe. The horse tends to take longer while stopping on its stride. When it is standing still, the horse tends to shift its position often. It does so to ease pressure on the painful infected bone. This shifting comforts the horse against the pain.
The positive diagnosis is confirmed through clinical signs and radiography. A professional veterinarian gives the requisite treatment to a horse on pin pointing the disease via x-rays. Physically examining a hoof area of a sick horse also confirms the presence of the problem. An infected horse will reveal clear signs which enable the veterinarian make a full positive diagnosis.
Testers applied on the painful spot will reveal that the horse is indeed sick with the syndrome. A flinching response will correspond directly to the application of pressure on a sick navicular bone. The most affected hoof of a horse will appear smaller in comparison with the apparent healthier hoof. This is because the horses will constantly shift weight to the deceptively healthier leg.
The level of normal performance in the horses activities can be regained to the original levels. This is if proper treatment and care are administered. The disease is treatable and, therefore, not terminal. When a human track event athlete develops bad feet, it does not mean they shall never run again. It just means they become aware about their affliction and, therefore, take the proper care of their affected feet. The same situation is comparable to horses afflicted with the syndrome.
The malady infects both front feet of a horse. The initial examination could identify only one of these legs as afflicted. Soon, however, the nervous system of other leg is blockaded giving the appearance that this horse is limping using the other leg. The limping is the red flag a veterinarian uses to pinpoint the syndrome presence.
The foundation of the remedial treatment for any horse afflicted by the disease involves picking a right choice where horse shoeing is concerned. It involves not making frequent corrective shoe adjustments since most horses get the malady from faulty long shoes or under-run heels. A technique to fix the malady involves having the hooves made to balance from the front to the back and from side to side. This eases the ache for the horse. Each front hoof must be made to be parallel to the pastern line and the shoes back.
Another viable option to treat this disease is Isoxsuprine. This drug has proved very successful against the problem currently. It helps increase blood circulation and flow. It enables dilution of blood vessels on the navicular bone. The requisite exercise can also enhance blood circulation.
The pain becomes apparent when the sick horse tends to avoid placing pressure on the bone by transferring pressure to the toe. The horse tends to take longer while stopping on its stride. When it is standing still, the horse tends to shift its position often. It does so to ease pressure on the painful infected bone. This shifting comforts the horse against the pain.
The positive diagnosis is confirmed through clinical signs and radiography. A professional veterinarian gives the requisite treatment to a horse on pin pointing the disease via x-rays. Physically examining a hoof area of a sick horse also confirms the presence of the problem. An infected horse will reveal clear signs which enable the veterinarian make a full positive diagnosis.
Testers applied on the painful spot will reveal that the horse is indeed sick with the syndrome. A flinching response will correspond directly to the application of pressure on a sick navicular bone. The most affected hoof of a horse will appear smaller in comparison with the apparent healthier hoof. This is because the horses will constantly shift weight to the deceptively healthier leg.
The level of normal performance in the horses activities can be regained to the original levels. This is if proper treatment and care are administered. The disease is treatable and, therefore, not terminal. When a human track event athlete develops bad feet, it does not mean they shall never run again. It just means they become aware about their affliction and, therefore, take the proper care of their affected feet. The same situation is comparable to horses afflicted with the syndrome.
The malady infects both front feet of a horse. The initial examination could identify only one of these legs as afflicted. Soon, however, the nervous system of other leg is blockaded giving the appearance that this horse is limping using the other leg. The limping is the red flag a veterinarian uses to pinpoint the syndrome presence.
The foundation of the remedial treatment for any horse afflicted by the disease involves picking a right choice where horse shoeing is concerned. It involves not making frequent corrective shoe adjustments since most horses get the malady from faulty long shoes or under-run heels. A technique to fix the malady involves having the hooves made to balance from the front to the back and from side to side. This eases the ache for the horse. Each front hoof must be made to be parallel to the pastern line and the shoes back.
Another viable option to treat this disease is Isoxsuprine. This drug has proved very successful against the problem currently. It helps increase blood circulation and flow. It enables dilution of blood vessels on the navicular bone. The requisite exercise can also enhance blood circulation.
About the Author:
If your horse has been experiencing navicular pain, it is time to call the vets. Learn more about this disease by reading the informative posts at http://www.naviculardisease.com.
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