Effects Of Navicular Syndrome In Horses

By Olivia Cross


This disease leads to inflammation of the navicular bone and the adjacent tissues and is mostly concentrated on the front feet. The cartilage becomes less shock absorbing, less bouncy and wears out gradually due to continuous application of compression to the bone. Navicular syndrome in horses is known to cause pain in the hoof as well as be a cause of horse lameness in both front feet.

One will notice that the sick horse will avoid applying pressure to the bone by placing its weight on the toe. It will also take a longer time than is expected in order to stop a stride and shift its position often when it is standing. This is an attempt to ease the pain and pressure from the infected bone; hence, giving the animal some comfort by easing the pain.

The diagnosis of their condition is based on both clinical signs and radiographic. A veterinarian bases her treatment on what she observes from the x-rays and physical examinations of the hoof region. Normally, an infected horse shows clear signs that provide the practitioner with some or all the information.

During observation by a veterinarian, they will note that the horse responds with pain when the testers are used on it. This reaction is correspondent to pressure applied to the navicular bone. Conversely, the hoof of the most affected leg is apparently smaller than the hoof of their opposite leg because the horse mostly shifts all of its weight to that leg.

The level of performance and the normalcy of animals activities can get back to expected levels if proper care and treatment is given to this animal as the disease is not terminal. When human track athlete has bad feet, that does not mean that they will never run again. It only means that they have to be well aware of this condition and take good care of their feet. This situation can be comparable to this condition in horses.

Normally, these animals are actually lame on both front feet but when initially examined, they will seem to be lame only on one leg. However, when the nervous system of that leg suffer blockage, it appears to be limping with the other leg. This phenomenon of limping is a red flag to vets that acts as an indication of the syndrome.

The treatment of this disease should focus on correct shoeing and not corrective shoeing as most animals have long and under run shores which is the main cause of this condition. The importance of the owner practicing the crucial theory of hoof balancing from front to back and from side to side should not be ignored. Basically, the hoof from the front ought to be parallel to the pastern line and so is the back of the shoe too.

Drug therapy is another option for treatment with lsoxsuprine being the most successful drug that has been used. It facilitates the increment of blood circulation as well as dilating the blood vessels in the navicular bone. Exercise is another alternative for enhancing blood circulation.




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