There are certain kinds of diseases that affect horses while remain unknown in donkeys and ponies. One such example is the navicular syndrome. This condition is a major cause of chronic forelimb lameness in horses, especially those used for athletic purposes. The condition is degenerative and involves loss of medullary architecture, bone sclerosis, traumatic, fibrillation, and enthesiophyte formation. The disease was discovered long ago and continues to be a problem to date.
The source of the condition is not a disease entity, but rather complex pathogenesis. However, research links a biochemical and vascular component to it. Additionally, this problem is also believed to be hereditary because instances reduced after disallowing breeding certification to stallions with this condition. The condition never appears till the age of 8 to 10, making it to be characteristic in mature horses.
Level of lameness and disease process seem to get influenced by the conformation of distal limbs. Among the major causes for the problem include long toes, excess pressure on the hoof-pastern, and underrun heels. The happening of aforementioned factors result in excess pressure on the flexor tendon and navicular bone. Damage of the navicular bursitis and the fibrocartilage are additional conditions that can occur.
The disease occurs in stages with later stages getting worse and severe. When the disease is still in its early stages, there is intermittent lameness and owing to its bilateral nature, there may never be any visible head nod. This is especially when moving the animal on a straight line. One of the mild signs at this stage is a shortened stride. During early stages, the condition could be worsened when the horse is moved in circles.
Age and breed are important factors during diagnosis. Horses show a specific reaction to palmar digital nerve anesthesia when a lameness examination is performed. A rate of 11% positives was found using hoof testers by some study, rendering hoof testers quite unsatisfactory in all cases. Anesthesia of navicular bursa has been found to be a precise diagnosis process among all others. However, it is not done during lameness examination because of the complexity of the injection and the amount of pain involved.
In cases where the condition has gotten worse, achieving total cure is not possible because the disease is chronic and degenerative in nature. However, the problem can be managed quite well in some cases. Administration of NSAID and utilization of corrective shoes are some of the commonest treatment options used. Phenylbutazone is more commonly used over other NSAIDs. However, GI and renal injury are some of side effects of phenylbutazone, and should be used cautiously.
The efficiency of drugs is also limited and in cases where lameness is severe, rest is the most recommended idea. Besides drugs, measures of foot care are also helpful. The hooves could be trimmed and shoed to restore the normal balance and alignment of phalangeal. The efficiency of the shoes can be determined after two weeks.
It is recommendable to seek assistance immediately the condition is discovered. Animals can be disabled by severe cases. Animals feel a lot of pain if not treated in time.
The source of the condition is not a disease entity, but rather complex pathogenesis. However, research links a biochemical and vascular component to it. Additionally, this problem is also believed to be hereditary because instances reduced after disallowing breeding certification to stallions with this condition. The condition never appears till the age of 8 to 10, making it to be characteristic in mature horses.
Level of lameness and disease process seem to get influenced by the conformation of distal limbs. Among the major causes for the problem include long toes, excess pressure on the hoof-pastern, and underrun heels. The happening of aforementioned factors result in excess pressure on the flexor tendon and navicular bone. Damage of the navicular bursitis and the fibrocartilage are additional conditions that can occur.
The disease occurs in stages with later stages getting worse and severe. When the disease is still in its early stages, there is intermittent lameness and owing to its bilateral nature, there may never be any visible head nod. This is especially when moving the animal on a straight line. One of the mild signs at this stage is a shortened stride. During early stages, the condition could be worsened when the horse is moved in circles.
Age and breed are important factors during diagnosis. Horses show a specific reaction to palmar digital nerve anesthesia when a lameness examination is performed. A rate of 11% positives was found using hoof testers by some study, rendering hoof testers quite unsatisfactory in all cases. Anesthesia of navicular bursa has been found to be a precise diagnosis process among all others. However, it is not done during lameness examination because of the complexity of the injection and the amount of pain involved.
In cases where the condition has gotten worse, achieving total cure is not possible because the disease is chronic and degenerative in nature. However, the problem can be managed quite well in some cases. Administration of NSAID and utilization of corrective shoes are some of the commonest treatment options used. Phenylbutazone is more commonly used over other NSAIDs. However, GI and renal injury are some of side effects of phenylbutazone, and should be used cautiously.
The efficiency of drugs is also limited and in cases where lameness is severe, rest is the most recommended idea. Besides drugs, measures of foot care are also helpful. The hooves could be trimmed and shoed to restore the normal balance and alignment of phalangeal. The efficiency of the shoes can be determined after two weeks.
It is recommendable to seek assistance immediately the condition is discovered. Animals can be disabled by severe cases. Animals feel a lot of pain if not treated in time.
About the Author:
You can visit www.naviculardisease.com for more helpful information about Understanding What Navicular Syndrome Is.
