Navicular is known to be a disease in horses that can be managed if the diagnosis and treatment are done in good time. It mainly affects the front feet where the navicular bone and its surrounding tissues become inflamed and degraded. The most severe cases are characterized by significant lameness in the animal. Navicular pain should not cause unnecessary alarm as it can be controlled using various ways.
Diagnosis of the disease can be done by looking at both radiographic and clinical signs. This means that a veterinarian can tell there is a problem by looking at x-rays of the hoof area was well as direct observation in a physical examination. These x-rays are however the most efficient as they help rule out other possible causes of this pain.
The signs that the veterinarian needs to look out for are as follows. The horse will often bring its legs slightly forward in an attempt to shift the weight to the toe other than the heel to avoid pain, when hoof testers are used on the middle third of the frog, it will respond in pain and lastly the horse will have long toes and under run heels which is the main cause of the disease.
During the first examinations, most horses with the disease will seem lame on one leg but later end up lame in both front legs. The reason for this is that as soon as there is nerve blockage on one leg, the horse will limp on the opposite leg applying excess pressure on it. This should be a red waving flag to the medical practitioner that this horse is suffering from the condition.
The foundation for treating any horse that shows the corresponding signs is correct shoeing. Owners of these horses out to follow the essential rules of balancing their hooves which is usually from the front to the back and then side to side. The front hoof should be parallel to the line of their pastern and the back of the hoof should be parallel to their pastern.
Long toes that cause under slung can be easily rectified by trimming them away which is the most apparent problem for affected horses. The heel can also be corrected although it is a difficult approach as the shoe must be extended backward to the right location it is supposed to have been if the heels were not worn out which is probably the cause of these complications.
Using drugs for treating the disease is another action that should be undertaken. Isoxsuprine is the most efficient drug that has been used to treat the condition that works by dilation of the blood vessels. This in turn causes the blood circulation to their navicular bone to increase. Reports are confident that 8 out of 10 horses diagnosed with the syndrome will respond to it.
Additionally, exercising is a better way to increase circulation to the foot and is considered a form of treatment. The horse should be made to learn how to shift most of its weight to hind legs. Riders make use of the long and low technique to achieve the goal. Pain can be completely managed when the horse becomes good in the weight shifting.
Diagnosis of the disease can be done by looking at both radiographic and clinical signs. This means that a veterinarian can tell there is a problem by looking at x-rays of the hoof area was well as direct observation in a physical examination. These x-rays are however the most efficient as they help rule out other possible causes of this pain.
The signs that the veterinarian needs to look out for are as follows. The horse will often bring its legs slightly forward in an attempt to shift the weight to the toe other than the heel to avoid pain, when hoof testers are used on the middle third of the frog, it will respond in pain and lastly the horse will have long toes and under run heels which is the main cause of the disease.
During the first examinations, most horses with the disease will seem lame on one leg but later end up lame in both front legs. The reason for this is that as soon as there is nerve blockage on one leg, the horse will limp on the opposite leg applying excess pressure on it. This should be a red waving flag to the medical practitioner that this horse is suffering from the condition.
The foundation for treating any horse that shows the corresponding signs is correct shoeing. Owners of these horses out to follow the essential rules of balancing their hooves which is usually from the front to the back and then side to side. The front hoof should be parallel to the line of their pastern and the back of the hoof should be parallel to their pastern.
Long toes that cause under slung can be easily rectified by trimming them away which is the most apparent problem for affected horses. The heel can also be corrected although it is a difficult approach as the shoe must be extended backward to the right location it is supposed to have been if the heels were not worn out which is probably the cause of these complications.
Using drugs for treating the disease is another action that should be undertaken. Isoxsuprine is the most efficient drug that has been used to treat the condition that works by dilation of the blood vessels. This in turn causes the blood circulation to their navicular bone to increase. Reports are confident that 8 out of 10 horses diagnosed with the syndrome will respond to it.
Additionally, exercising is a better way to increase circulation to the foot and is considered a form of treatment. The horse should be made to learn how to shift most of its weight to hind legs. Riders make use of the long and low technique to achieve the goal. Pain can be completely managed when the horse becomes good in the weight shifting.
No comments:
Post a Comment