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.
The veterinarian needs to look at both the clinical signs and the radiographic signs before making a diagnosis. This means that he needs to carefully observe the hoof x-rays and check for other signs during the physical examination. One cannot immediately connect this pain to the condition because it has many causes; hence, stating the importance of x-rays.
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.
Horses thought to suffer from the condition will be lame on both front legs but will seem lame o one leg when examinations are first carried out. This phenomenon occurs as soon as there is nerve blockage in one leg and the horse limps on the opposite leg to ease the pain. This is the most important indication that the horse may be having the disease.
Correct and not corrective shoeing should form the basis for treatment for this syndrome. People who own horses should know the principle of balancing hooves front to back and side to side. In addition, the back of their hoof is supposed to be parallel to their pastern while fore hoof should align parallel to their pastern line.
The most common problem seen with horses suffering from this condition is long toes and under run heels which can be controlled by trimming the long toe away. Correcting the heel is a difficult problem as the shoe has to be extended backward from the heel to the place where it should have been if the heel was not worn out.
Drug therapy is also important in treating the syndrome that must be combined with other methods. The most successful drug that has been use for the disease is known as Isoxuprine which dilates the blood vessels causing better circulation to navicular bones. About 80% of horses diagnosed with the disease can be cured by it according to reports.
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.
The veterinarian needs to look at both the clinical signs and the radiographic signs before making a diagnosis. This means that he needs to carefully observe the hoof x-rays and check for other signs during the physical examination. One cannot immediately connect this pain to the condition because it has many causes; hence, stating the importance of x-rays.
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.
Horses thought to suffer from the condition will be lame on both front legs but will seem lame o one leg when examinations are first carried out. This phenomenon occurs as soon as there is nerve blockage in one leg and the horse limps on the opposite leg to ease the pain. This is the most important indication that the horse may be having the disease.
Correct and not corrective shoeing should form the basis for treatment for this syndrome. People who own horses should know the principle of balancing hooves front to back and side to side. In addition, the back of their hoof is supposed to be parallel to their pastern while fore hoof should align parallel to their pastern line.
The most common problem seen with horses suffering from this condition is long toes and under run heels which can be controlled by trimming the long toe away. Correcting the heel is a difficult problem as the shoe has to be extended backward from the heel to the place where it should have been if the heel was not worn out.
Drug therapy is also important in treating the syndrome that must be combined with other methods. The most successful drug that has been use for the disease is known as Isoxuprine which dilates the blood vessels causing better circulation to navicular bones. About 80% of horses diagnosed with the disease can be cured by it according to reports.
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.
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