Sunday, March 17, 2019

The Navicular Disease Treatment Options

By Carol Bell


Heel illnesses affect numerous horses worldwide. Common symptoms of this condition are vessels enlargement at the heel area, flexor region degeneration among others. Even though there have been efforts by researchers to invent curative measures, no positive results have been seen yet. Fortunately, with proper management, animals can live normally even without Navicular disease treatment. Precisely, management involves therapy, medical intervention, and surgery. Each of them is discussed below in detail.

First signs of hoof ailments are reflected on hooves. For this reason, before trying any other form of cure, ensure proper shoeing is done regularly. Shoeing is a process of balancing all sides of hooves. Ideally, hoof front should lie parallel to the pastern line while back side lies parallel to the pastern itself. Most limping horses have longer toes than normal as well as under-run heels. If trimmed to normal size, limping reduces and horses become more comfortable.

If the size of toes does not require trimming, then specialists can try padding affected area to raise angular positioning. Ideally, if back and front hoof areas lie flat, more pressure will be exerted on flexor tendons. As pressure increases, blood circulation reduces. Ultimately, horse movement is affected. Padding reduces tension by maintaining normal pastern-heel axis. It works gradually depending on how much angular distortion had happened. Additionally, some horses do not respond positively to this form of therapy.

Therapy is not completely sufficient to reduce heel pain. This is why medication will be advised to supplement therapy. Medication differs depending on the cause of an ailment. Most commonly, veterinary officers use anti-inflammatory dosages. Phenylbutazone or simply Bute is a common medication which has been approved in most States. Drugs must be taken as advised by a veterinarian. To reduce medication frequency, dosage may be done during workdays of an animal. As a matter of fact, this is when pain is extreme.

In case a horse has zero tolerance to Bute, another form of medication is Isoxsuprine. It addresses low blood circulation through vasodilation of blood vessels. However, there have been controversies surrounding usage of this medication. This is because most specialists have reported little or no improvement even after usage. Even with such observations, a couple of therapy and Isoxsuprine has worked in other animals. Other drugs which work in a similar manner are Pentoxifylline as well as Metrenperone.

Besides medication and therapy, surgery works to relieve extreme pain on heels. Digital Neurectomy is a common surgical operation that involves transecting nerves on the lower the pastern part. Operation techniques have greatly improved over time. Initially, it would be done with a simple cutting blade. Today, the transection is highly mechanized through use of laser machines.

A different form of surgery is Neurectomy. If all these methods have failed, there is no optional medication to curb further damage. Neurectomy only makes horses more comfortable by reducing pain. Interventions to heal hooves are stopped.

Even though the nerving has been the most effective method, results are not permanent. This is because the nerves continue growing even after being cut. Differently, more serious cases may erupt after surgery. To offer lasting solutions, specialists must keep repeating procedure they hope more permanent solutions will be invented.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment