Degeneration of the navicular bone in horses is a common ailment in horses. Officially known as navicular syndrome or caudal heel pain, the degeneration and associated inflammation can cause significant lameness and can become disabling too. However, the syndrome is not terminal and if diagnosed early and treated well, the horse feels better.
For an early diagnosis, a horseman should look out for certain signs and symptoms. The first sign is while walking, a sick horse will tend to rest heavily on its toe instead of the usual heel which is already inflamed and painful. The horseman should also notice if the horse takes longer to stop the stride, which is as a result of the new pressure on the toe.
Another sign to look out for is whether the pony shifts its weight from time to time while standing. If the pony is sick of caudal heel pain, it will continually shift weight in an effort to remove pressure from the heel and relieve the pain. The continuous shifting of weight causes the shoulders to grow lame and the gait to become rough. In addition, the horse will walk demonstrating lameness which gets better only after resting.
If you observe one or more of the above signs and symptoms, call a veterinary doctor right away. They will carry out tests to determine whether your horse is sick from the paining heel. The vet may use a hoof tester to tell whether the frog area is inflamed. It applies pressure on the area and if inflamed, the pony will feel pain and flinch.
The hind feet are also tested to act as a control that compares that with the reaction of their forefeet. A veterinarian will also give a local anesthesia to relieve the pain for a short through inhibiting the nerve supply in the affected area. If the pony is sick from the syndrome, it will walk normally again without the lameness. If it was not caudal heel pain, the pony continues to be lame even after the local anesthesia.
There are several treatment options available for dealing with paining heels in horses. The options range from conservative to aggressive and involve medication, surgery and therapeutic shoeing. Since it is not easy to predict the response to treatment, veterinarians work from conservative methods up to more drastic measures gradually. As these treatments are ongoing, you will notice a positive response from the pony depending on the option that worked best.
To relieve pressure and consequently pain, therapeutic shoeing is used. Vasodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve pain and increase blood flow to the affected area respectively. The most common treatment option is surgery. A surgeon cuts off the nerve endings at the back of the foot so that the pony does not feel pain anymore. However, the nerves may grow back and therefore the solution remains viable for only 3 to five years.
Caudal heel pain affects most breeds of horses, although the incidence is highest in thoroughbreds and warm-bloods while Arabians are rarely affected. Despite the fact that navicular disease does not favor the outlook for horses, early diagnosis and treatment will help reduce the suffering of the horse. Also, if you are lucky and depending on the severity, the horse should continue its service.
For an early diagnosis, a horseman should look out for certain signs and symptoms. The first sign is while walking, a sick horse will tend to rest heavily on its toe instead of the usual heel which is already inflamed and painful. The horseman should also notice if the horse takes longer to stop the stride, which is as a result of the new pressure on the toe.
Another sign to look out for is whether the pony shifts its weight from time to time while standing. If the pony is sick of caudal heel pain, it will continually shift weight in an effort to remove pressure from the heel and relieve the pain. The continuous shifting of weight causes the shoulders to grow lame and the gait to become rough. In addition, the horse will walk demonstrating lameness which gets better only after resting.
If you observe one or more of the above signs and symptoms, call a veterinary doctor right away. They will carry out tests to determine whether your horse is sick from the paining heel. The vet may use a hoof tester to tell whether the frog area is inflamed. It applies pressure on the area and if inflamed, the pony will feel pain and flinch.
The hind feet are also tested to act as a control that compares that with the reaction of their forefeet. A veterinarian will also give a local anesthesia to relieve the pain for a short through inhibiting the nerve supply in the affected area. If the pony is sick from the syndrome, it will walk normally again without the lameness. If it was not caudal heel pain, the pony continues to be lame even after the local anesthesia.
There are several treatment options available for dealing with paining heels in horses. The options range from conservative to aggressive and involve medication, surgery and therapeutic shoeing. Since it is not easy to predict the response to treatment, veterinarians work from conservative methods up to more drastic measures gradually. As these treatments are ongoing, you will notice a positive response from the pony depending on the option that worked best.
To relieve pressure and consequently pain, therapeutic shoeing is used. Vasodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve pain and increase blood flow to the affected area respectively. The most common treatment option is surgery. A surgeon cuts off the nerve endings at the back of the foot so that the pony does not feel pain anymore. However, the nerves may grow back and therefore the solution remains viable for only 3 to five years.
Caudal heel pain affects most breeds of horses, although the incidence is highest in thoroughbreds and warm-bloods while Arabians are rarely affected. Despite the fact that navicular disease does not favor the outlook for horses, early diagnosis and treatment will help reduce the suffering of the horse. Also, if you are lucky and depending on the severity, the horse should continue its service.
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