Monday, March 25, 2019

The Navicular Disease Treatment Options

By Carol Bell


There are many causes associated with heel illness. However, it has not been possible to come up with a solid cure. Instead, veterinaries recommend several management activities to ease pain and allow animals to walk comfortably. Navicular disease treatment management options are divided into non-medical, medicinal and surgical procedures. Sections below briefly explain what each entails.

First signs of hoof ailments are reflected on hooves. For this reason, before trying any other form of cure, ensure proper shoeing is done regularly. Shoeing is a process of balancing all sides of hooves. Ideally, hoof front should lie parallel to the pastern line while back side lies parallel to the pastern itself. Most limping horses have longer toes than normal as well as under-run heels. If trimmed to normal size, limping reduces and horses become more comfortable.

If the size of toes does not require trimming, then specialists can try padding affected area to raise angular positioning. Ideally, if back and front hoof areas lie flat, more pressure will be exerted on flexor tendons. As pressure increases, blood circulation reduces. Ultimately, horse movement is affected. Padding reduces tension by maintaining normal pastern-heel axis. It works gradually depending on how much angular distortion had happened. Additionally, some horses do not respond positively to this form of therapy.

If therapeutic curative measures do not work, a different methodology is the use of medication. There are numerous medications depending on the cause of lameness. Medication involves the use of anti-inflammatory medicines such as Bute. Dosage is determined by two factors. First, specialists must have diagnosed the causes of pain. Next is their work schedule. To minimize medication, administer drugs only on days surrounding working periods. However, only a specialist can work out a specific dosage.

In case a horse has zero tolerance to Bute, another form of medication is Isoxsuprine. It addresses low blood circulation through vasodilation of blood vessels. However, there have been controversies surrounding usage of this medication. This is because most specialists have reported little or no improvement even after usage. Even with such observations, a couple of therapy and Isoxsuprine has worked in other animals. Other drugs which work in a similar manner are Pentoxifylline as well as Metrenperone.

Besides drugs, extreme cases of lameness could be operated on. A most common surgical procedure is nerving also referred to as digital Neurectomy. Nerving is a procedure which involves cutting nerves lying digitally in the lower pastern area. Surgery has evolved gradually with time. Initially, it would be a simple process of cutting nerves with a scalpel. Today more advanced specialists nerve using highly improved laser devices.

The last option when every other medication has failed is Neurectomy. Unlike other management procedures, Neurectomy only aims at reducing pain. Hooves continue degenerating from inside with time. For this reason, it can only be adopted if all other medications do not work.

Even though the nerving has been the most effective method, results are not permanent. This is because the nerves continue growing even after being cut. Differently, more serious cases may erupt after surgery. To offer lasting solutions, specialists must keep repeating procedure they hope more permanent solutions will be invented.




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