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The Truth About Navicular Disease In Horses

By Ina Hunt


Over time, the horse has been the most utilized four legged animal in all of history. People and equines go a long way back through times. This animal is used to be burdened with heavy loads that are too much for a human to carry. They are used to pull logs and other things from one location to another.

In the latter day setting, horses are now bred for its appearance. Horses today are treated well and are given their basic needs and more, but there will always be instances when an equine needs medical attention due to a sickness, especially if it is navicular disease in horses.

This particular disease is brought about by the inflammation of the navicula, the bone which is located right in the middle of the hoof. This little piece of bone is located snugly on top of the deep digital flexor tendon of each foot. The bone itself is degenerating, and may cause lameness if not treated well and right.

There are really no exact reasons why this particular disease hits quadrupeds. Experts on equine care have their own theories and discussions as to why this happens, as here are some of their calculated guesses. One is overexertion. Lack of rest, as they are to stand all day long, can cause heavy strain on the feet of quadrupeds. Horses with bigger body mass also tend to develop navicular syndrome, as the hooves struggle to support all the extra weight.

Old age plays a role in the progression of the said illness, but it is not really a major factor. This certain disease usually afflicts equines who are at their prime, at their working age of seven to nine years old. Some even develop this problem in as early as only three years of age.

Horse shoes also play an integral role in the development of the said syndrome. Poor trimming, wrong shoe selections and erroneous shoe attachment are only some of the contributing factors. The hooves of quadrupeds, as some experts say, is designed to expand and contract along as the horse grows. By fitting inflexible metals such as the ordinary horse shoes, the growth of the hoof is limited, causing faults in blood flow.

If the horse normally travels on areas that are too rocky and could possibly uneven, the chances of developing navicular disease also increase. Steep hills and sloped ranges cause the horse to give more effort, resulting in hoof disorder. Make your horse work or travel along areas that are conducive for trotting along. For those who are participating in equestrian sports, all the high jumps and gallops that a horse makes will also affect the navicula negatively.

The sickness is curable, as long as it is treated early. The first step is to change the shoes that were first fitted to the horse. Some times raising the shoe a few degrees more will be able to help. This is done by applying a small pad which raises the angle of the foot. This varies from one horse to the other, so there are no fixed numbers.

You can also try the administration of drugs to a particular horse. Vets often prescribe anti inflammatory ones to fight off the burns and the soreness. Since the results of the medication will not be the same for all equines, it would be best to take the beast in question to see a medical professional.




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