Navicular syndrome is a problem found in horses that can be dealt with if treatment and diagnosis is done early. It is usually attributed to the inflammation and degradation of the navicular bone and its surrounding tissues mainly in the front feet. If care is not taken, the disease can go out of hand and cause lameness. Navicular pain is a therefore very common condition that can be managed in horses.
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.
There are obvious signs that the veterinarian needs to be keen and watch out for. Limping that is caused by shifting all the weight from the heel to the toe because of the pain, a painful response when hoof testers are used on the middle third of the frog and finally the presence of long toes resulting in under run heels which usually causes the disease.
During the first examinations, most horses with the disease will seem lame on one leg but later end up lame in both front legs. The reason for this is that as soon as there is nerve blockage on one leg, the horse will limp on the opposite leg applying excess pressure on it. This should be a red waving flag to the medical practitioner that this horse is suffering from the condition.
The basis for treatment of the navicular syndrome should be correct shoeing rather than corrective shoeing. Horse owners should be aware of the rules of hoof balancing that is done from the front to back, then side to side. On the other hand, front hooves should be parallel to their pastern while back ones on the other hand should be aligned parallel to the pastern.
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.
Using drugs for treating the disease is another action that should be undertaken. Isoxsuprine is the most efficient drug that has been used to treat the condition that works by dilation of the blood vessels. This in turn causes the blood circulation to their navicular bone to increase. Reports are confident that 8 out of 10 horses diagnosed with the syndrome will respond to it.
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.
There are obvious signs that the veterinarian needs to be keen and watch out for. Limping that is caused by shifting all the weight from the heel to the toe because of the pain, a painful response when hoof testers are used on the middle third of the frog and finally the presence of long toes resulting in under run heels which usually causes the disease.
During the first examinations, most horses with the disease will seem lame on one leg but later end up lame in both front legs. The reason for this is that as soon as there is nerve blockage on one leg, the horse will limp on the opposite leg applying excess pressure on it. This should be a red waving flag to the medical practitioner that this horse is suffering from the condition.
The basis for treatment of the navicular syndrome should be correct shoeing rather than corrective shoeing. Horse owners should be aware of the rules of hoof balancing that is done from the front to back, then side to side. On the other hand, front hooves should be parallel to their pastern while back ones on the other hand should be aligned parallel to the pastern.
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.
Using drugs for treating the disease is another action that should be undertaken. Isoxsuprine is the most efficient drug that has been used to treat the condition that works by dilation of the blood vessels. This in turn causes the blood circulation to their navicular bone to increase. Reports are confident that 8 out of 10 horses diagnosed with the syndrome will respond to it.
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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