Navicular syndrome is a disease of the navicular bone that affects the equine family especially horses. The condition is caused by degeneration and inflammation of the bone and supporting tissues. Failure to take fast and effective measures to treat navicular disease can cause serious or disabling lameness. Equine forelimb anatomy needs to be understood first for one to understand this problem well.
The problem has several observable signs. One of the commonest signs is hurting heels. Lameness begins intermittently and mildly becoming and develops to severe levels over time. Factors like erosion of cartilage, inflammation in supportive ligaments, damaged bones and tendons, reduced blood flow, and pressure built up in hooves are the causes for lameness.
The posture the animal assumes when walking can tell if it is in pain. Some stumble frequently and because of hurting heels, display a tiptoe gait. Although both front feet get affected, one is normally worse than the other. Lameness switches feet at times with no observable pattern. Hard surfaces or walking in circles make the problem to get worse. The most affected foot may start losing shape after hurting for several months.
This condition is caused and contributed by many factors. Compression caused to DDF tendons over of navicular bones is the major cause. If the feet are compressed for months, cartilage degenerates. Cartilage loses its springy nature and fails to absorb shock because of flattening resulting from degeneration. In some situations, erosion also occurs to the cartilage. Some connection has been found between osteoarthritis and this condition by some researchers. This makes therapeutic regimes suggested for the two conditions to be the same.
Tension on supportive ligaments for the navicular bones also causes the problem. Too much tension causes the impar ligament to be stressed and get inflamed according to some experts. There is a reduction in blood flowing to and from the bones due to the strain and inflammation. There is less obstruction to blood going to the feet than that coming out because veins are more compressed than arteries. The obstruction causes blood pressure to build up. If tension is very high, ligaments may tear up and exostoses caused.
The third most common cause is toe-first landing. Toe-first landing results from misaligned lower joints in most cases. Bones and deep digital flexor tendons are strained with this landing causing bones to be modified. Poor shoeing, over-trimming of heels or frog, and long toes also lead to toe-first landing.
Major factors that contribute to the syndrome are shoeing, work, body weight, and conformation. Conformational defects especially those which promote concussion are the major contributing factors. Conformational defects include low heels with long toes, significant downhill build, small feet, upright pasterns, and narrow and upright feet. These defects contribute by causing constant stress on tendons, ligaments, and bones in feet. The syndrome may also develop due to galloping, jumping, and working on steep terrains.
This condition has various options for treatment. Among them are trimming, medication, surgery, hoof care, and exercise. One should know that some cases take more than one method to treat the disease. Treatment may depend on the severity of the problem.
The problem has several observable signs. One of the commonest signs is hurting heels. Lameness begins intermittently and mildly becoming and develops to severe levels over time. Factors like erosion of cartilage, inflammation in supportive ligaments, damaged bones and tendons, reduced blood flow, and pressure built up in hooves are the causes for lameness.
The posture the animal assumes when walking can tell if it is in pain. Some stumble frequently and because of hurting heels, display a tiptoe gait. Although both front feet get affected, one is normally worse than the other. Lameness switches feet at times with no observable pattern. Hard surfaces or walking in circles make the problem to get worse. The most affected foot may start losing shape after hurting for several months.
This condition is caused and contributed by many factors. Compression caused to DDF tendons over of navicular bones is the major cause. If the feet are compressed for months, cartilage degenerates. Cartilage loses its springy nature and fails to absorb shock because of flattening resulting from degeneration. In some situations, erosion also occurs to the cartilage. Some connection has been found between osteoarthritis and this condition by some researchers. This makes therapeutic regimes suggested for the two conditions to be the same.
Tension on supportive ligaments for the navicular bones also causes the problem. Too much tension causes the impar ligament to be stressed and get inflamed according to some experts. There is a reduction in blood flowing to and from the bones due to the strain and inflammation. There is less obstruction to blood going to the feet than that coming out because veins are more compressed than arteries. The obstruction causes blood pressure to build up. If tension is very high, ligaments may tear up and exostoses caused.
The third most common cause is toe-first landing. Toe-first landing results from misaligned lower joints in most cases. Bones and deep digital flexor tendons are strained with this landing causing bones to be modified. Poor shoeing, over-trimming of heels or frog, and long toes also lead to toe-first landing.
Major factors that contribute to the syndrome are shoeing, work, body weight, and conformation. Conformational defects especially those which promote concussion are the major contributing factors. Conformational defects include low heels with long toes, significant downhill build, small feet, upright pasterns, and narrow and upright feet. These defects contribute by causing constant stress on tendons, ligaments, and bones in feet. The syndrome may also develop due to galloping, jumping, and working on steep terrains.
This condition has various options for treatment. Among them are trimming, medication, surgery, hoof care, and exercise. One should know that some cases take more than one method to treat the disease. Treatment may depend on the severity of the problem.
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