Whenever a horse is labeled as suffering from the 'navicular', there is a tendency of people to shy away from him, making it look like he was suffering from some deadly malady like the Typhoid Mary or other similar diseases. Many people are in the dark when it comes to treating or even visualizing the navicular disease in horses. This is a condition that the feet that normally results in lameness and is most likely to appear as the lameness in one of the forelimbs.
It is most common in the forelimb but can also occur in the hind feet. Normally, the lameness is just slight or moderate and it is on the rare occasion where the lameness gets severe. It is a disease that is more common with the horses than the ponies. In addition to this, it is most noticed in the horses that have the typical thoroughbred-like foot conformation such as long toes, or low and collapsed heels. The other risk facts include work that involves lots of jumping as well as lots of road work.
For proper diagnosis of the navicular condition, the veterinarian has to rely on the clinical tests as well as the radiograph signs. There are several horses that show the radiographic signs in the x-ray images without any sign of lameness or do not test positive in the long last. On the other hands, the clinical test may not rule other possible causes like the coffin bone crack, the heel bruise, and the simple sole bruise. These can only be ruled out with the help of radiography.
Generally though, pinpointing the exact cause of the problem is not easy. This is due to the fact that there are numerous possible causes, and as such, a single treatment may not be possible. The navicular bone is actually a small bone found at the horse foot. To date, there is no concurrence when it comes to the cause of this condition. There are several theories suggesting the possible causes, one of the oldest suggesting that the navicular bone normally undergoes the charges that brings about pathology and pain in the area.
Other risk factors include the horse breed. The quarterhorse breed and the thoroghbreds are at higher risk than other horses as their legs are smaller as compared to their big bodies. The signs are more likely to be noticed from the age of 7 to 14.
In order to reduce symptoms, vets usually resort to techniques that target to increase circulation to the navicular area. This includes the administration of isoxsuprine hydrochloride as it helps in dilating the small blood vessels. The magnetic hoof and the anticoagulant warfarin are both used to increase local circulation, which in turn reduces pain.
When it comes to treatment, most veterinarians usually go for bute to manage navicular and other lameness diseases. It is considered effective as it helps to reduce the pain and inflammation in the early stages of such conditions.
However, the steroids are used particularly when it is suspected that the origin of the pain is from the coffin joint or the navicular bursa. This is far from the cure as it only reduces inflammation but does not cure the underlying pathology problems. The other treatment includes administration of isoxcuprine hydrochloride, use of an anticoagulant, corrective shoeing techniques and neurectomy for chronic cases.
It is most common in the forelimb but can also occur in the hind feet. Normally, the lameness is just slight or moderate and it is on the rare occasion where the lameness gets severe. It is a disease that is more common with the horses than the ponies. In addition to this, it is most noticed in the horses that have the typical thoroughbred-like foot conformation such as long toes, or low and collapsed heels. The other risk facts include work that involves lots of jumping as well as lots of road work.
For proper diagnosis of the navicular condition, the veterinarian has to rely on the clinical tests as well as the radiograph signs. There are several horses that show the radiographic signs in the x-ray images without any sign of lameness or do not test positive in the long last. On the other hands, the clinical test may not rule other possible causes like the coffin bone crack, the heel bruise, and the simple sole bruise. These can only be ruled out with the help of radiography.
Generally though, pinpointing the exact cause of the problem is not easy. This is due to the fact that there are numerous possible causes, and as such, a single treatment may not be possible. The navicular bone is actually a small bone found at the horse foot. To date, there is no concurrence when it comes to the cause of this condition. There are several theories suggesting the possible causes, one of the oldest suggesting that the navicular bone normally undergoes the charges that brings about pathology and pain in the area.
Other risk factors include the horse breed. The quarterhorse breed and the thoroghbreds are at higher risk than other horses as their legs are smaller as compared to their big bodies. The signs are more likely to be noticed from the age of 7 to 14.
In order to reduce symptoms, vets usually resort to techniques that target to increase circulation to the navicular area. This includes the administration of isoxsuprine hydrochloride as it helps in dilating the small blood vessels. The magnetic hoof and the anticoagulant warfarin are both used to increase local circulation, which in turn reduces pain.
When it comes to treatment, most veterinarians usually go for bute to manage navicular and other lameness diseases. It is considered effective as it helps to reduce the pain and inflammation in the early stages of such conditions.
However, the steroids are used particularly when it is suspected that the origin of the pain is from the coffin joint or the navicular bursa. This is far from the cure as it only reduces inflammation but does not cure the underlying pathology problems. The other treatment includes administration of isoxcuprine hydrochloride, use of an anticoagulant, corrective shoeing techniques and neurectomy for chronic cases.
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