It is a chronic disorder of the navicular bone in horses which causes lameness in the front feet. It mostly describes an inflammation of the scaphoid bone and its surrounding tissues mostly in the front feet. This navicular disease is manageable with time by using drugs or other kinds of treatment.
A major sign of navicular ailment is that when the horse is walking, it tends to place its weight on the toes to avoid placing pressure in the heel area. This makes the horse to take long to stop strides taken. While standing, the horse tends to shift its weigh continuously to relieve pain. Another symptom of this illness is appearance of lameness on the shoulders. This is due to the weight exerted on the toes which makes the gait to be rough. However, this kind of pain disappears with rest. Long toes and under slung heels are also commonly observed in horses having this condition.
Interference with blood vessels surrounding the navicular bone is a major cause the navicular ailment. Damage appears to the deep flexor, tendon and the tissues causing pain. This illness is often found in horses between five years and above but the ailment can be controlled using different measures.
Diagnosis of navicular ailment is based on both clinical and radiographic signs. This simply means physical and x-ray diagnosis respectively. Veterinarians use hoof testers to conduct physical diagnosis. The testers are applied on the front legs of the horse and if the sickness is present, the horse flinches. The same is done on the hind legs to compare how the horse reacts.
Controlling the illness can occur in different aspects. The first aspect is by use of correct shoeing. This is where balancing of both front and back legs is taken care of. Since the most known problem of horses possessing navicular condition is long toes, this can easily be corrected by trimming the front of the hoof making this a second aspect.
Another way of dealing with this ailment is by use of drugs. Isoxsuprine drug has severally been used and the outcomes are positive. This drug therapy aids in expanding the blood vessels in the navicular bone allowing free movement of blood. Recent reports shows that around eighty percent of horses treated with this medication have reacted positively.
Exercise is also another way of navicular condition treatment. As explained earlier, the main causes of this illness is decreased circulation and trauma to the bone. Riding infected horses with intervals of thirty to sixty minutes six times per week helps in the exercise treatment. The horses are trained to bear more weight on the hind legs. The last kind of treatment is surgery. This is highly recommendable to horses who fail to respond to drug, exercise and correct shoeing treatments.
To conclude, the illness is not terminal. With treatment and care, the large majority of the horses that have been diagnosed with this ailment can manage to go back to their normal level of performance. Creation of awareness among masses on how to manage the sickness is recommendable to ensure healthy horses.
A major sign of navicular ailment is that when the horse is walking, it tends to place its weight on the toes to avoid placing pressure in the heel area. This makes the horse to take long to stop strides taken. While standing, the horse tends to shift its weigh continuously to relieve pain. Another symptom of this illness is appearance of lameness on the shoulders. This is due to the weight exerted on the toes which makes the gait to be rough. However, this kind of pain disappears with rest. Long toes and under slung heels are also commonly observed in horses having this condition.
Interference with blood vessels surrounding the navicular bone is a major cause the navicular ailment. Damage appears to the deep flexor, tendon and the tissues causing pain. This illness is often found in horses between five years and above but the ailment can be controlled using different measures.
Diagnosis of navicular ailment is based on both clinical and radiographic signs. This simply means physical and x-ray diagnosis respectively. Veterinarians use hoof testers to conduct physical diagnosis. The testers are applied on the front legs of the horse and if the sickness is present, the horse flinches. The same is done on the hind legs to compare how the horse reacts.
Controlling the illness can occur in different aspects. The first aspect is by use of correct shoeing. This is where balancing of both front and back legs is taken care of. Since the most known problem of horses possessing navicular condition is long toes, this can easily be corrected by trimming the front of the hoof making this a second aspect.
Another way of dealing with this ailment is by use of drugs. Isoxsuprine drug has severally been used and the outcomes are positive. This drug therapy aids in expanding the blood vessels in the navicular bone allowing free movement of blood. Recent reports shows that around eighty percent of horses treated with this medication have reacted positively.
Exercise is also another way of navicular condition treatment. As explained earlier, the main causes of this illness is decreased circulation and trauma to the bone. Riding infected horses with intervals of thirty to sixty minutes six times per week helps in the exercise treatment. The horses are trained to bear more weight on the hind legs. The last kind of treatment is surgery. This is highly recommendable to horses who fail to respond to drug, exercise and correct shoeing treatments.
To conclude, the illness is not terminal. With treatment and care, the large majority of the horses that have been diagnosed with this ailment can manage to go back to their normal level of performance. Creation of awareness among masses on how to manage the sickness is recommendable to ensure healthy horses.
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