Equine animal species usually experience a number of health conditions that are greatly affected by their activities. The commonly pronounced condition is the navicular horses syndrome which is a progressive condition involving the navicular bone. This special bone is usually located behind the coffin bone in the hoof. It also affects the bursa and the deep digital flexor tendon. It results in lameness and inflammation of the hoof due to the tension created as the stallion moves.
The inflammation mostly results from wear and tear as colt ages while the syndrome is most commonly portrayed in older ones. The condition affects all the breeds but the incidence is highest in Quarter horse breeds, Warm-bloods, and Thoroughbreds. However, colts with large, heavy body and relatively small hooves are often at a greater risk of the navicular syndrome as well as other foot problems.
Poor hoof care also fuels the chances of developing the ailment. This centers around the increased use of inappropriate pastern angle that mismatches the hoof shape and its angle. This mismatch is havoc and causes overstretching of the deep digital flexor tendon. As a result, pressure builds up over the scaphoid bone, the bursa, and other proximate structures. Delays in regular hoof trimming and resetting of shoes also pose the same risk of impacting pressure on that bone.
The caudal heel pain typically affects both front feet but in varied degrees making one foot to be more painful than the other. This feature is essential since it easily unveils the condition for easy visibility. It is vividly observed through short-striding in both limbs majorly when the horse is navigating tight corners or circles. This results to the foot landing in a toe-to-heel posture which is contrary to the normal heel-to-toe landing.
Radiographing of the affected heel bones may be vital in diagnosing the caudal heel pain syndrome. However, decades of radiographing have failed to show a clear relationship that exists between bone changes and heel pain. Amazingly, developers have pioneered the magnetic resonance imaging which is a more useful process in outlining problems in soft tissues structures surrounding the scaphoid bone.
The caudal heel pain syndrome can be managed to reduce the pain and significantly minimize the excessive stress that affects the deep digital flexor tendon. This management can be achieved by staging the equine in a layup period in a stall with a small paddock. This allows the painful structures to have a serene rest for their recovery. The equines should be kept at the correct body weight. Regular hoof trimming should be practiced to maintain the correct hoof angles and pasterns.
Additionally, therapeutic shoeing also improves horse comfort by enhancing balancing and break over. Some lamed equines benefit from corticosteroid injections at the coffin joint. In some scenarios that are featured by severe and intractable pain, the owners may adopt neurectomy which involves severing the nerves of the affected region. This procedure allows the horse to work without discomfort.
Therefore, the navicular syndrome in horses is usually accompanied by irritating symptoms that discomfort the equines. The adverse condition can be calmly suppressed by use various management strategies. They are usually administered to make the hoofed animals more comfortable and decrease stress and inflammation in the affected structures.
The inflammation mostly results from wear and tear as colt ages while the syndrome is most commonly portrayed in older ones. The condition affects all the breeds but the incidence is highest in Quarter horse breeds, Warm-bloods, and Thoroughbreds. However, colts with large, heavy body and relatively small hooves are often at a greater risk of the navicular syndrome as well as other foot problems.
Poor hoof care also fuels the chances of developing the ailment. This centers around the increased use of inappropriate pastern angle that mismatches the hoof shape and its angle. This mismatch is havoc and causes overstretching of the deep digital flexor tendon. As a result, pressure builds up over the scaphoid bone, the bursa, and other proximate structures. Delays in regular hoof trimming and resetting of shoes also pose the same risk of impacting pressure on that bone.
The caudal heel pain typically affects both front feet but in varied degrees making one foot to be more painful than the other. This feature is essential since it easily unveils the condition for easy visibility. It is vividly observed through short-striding in both limbs majorly when the horse is navigating tight corners or circles. This results to the foot landing in a toe-to-heel posture which is contrary to the normal heel-to-toe landing.
Radiographing of the affected heel bones may be vital in diagnosing the caudal heel pain syndrome. However, decades of radiographing have failed to show a clear relationship that exists between bone changes and heel pain. Amazingly, developers have pioneered the magnetic resonance imaging which is a more useful process in outlining problems in soft tissues structures surrounding the scaphoid bone.
The caudal heel pain syndrome can be managed to reduce the pain and significantly minimize the excessive stress that affects the deep digital flexor tendon. This management can be achieved by staging the equine in a layup period in a stall with a small paddock. This allows the painful structures to have a serene rest for their recovery. The equines should be kept at the correct body weight. Regular hoof trimming should be practiced to maintain the correct hoof angles and pasterns.
Additionally, therapeutic shoeing also improves horse comfort by enhancing balancing and break over. Some lamed equines benefit from corticosteroid injections at the coffin joint. In some scenarios that are featured by severe and intractable pain, the owners may adopt neurectomy which involves severing the nerves of the affected region. This procedure allows the horse to work without discomfort.
Therefore, the navicular syndrome in horses is usually accompanied by irritating symptoms that discomfort the equines. The adverse condition can be calmly suppressed by use various management strategies. They are usually administered to make the hoofed animals more comfortable and decrease stress and inflammation in the affected structures.
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