The horse lameness, particularly if it is the front foot easily makes the owner panic. In some situation, others even shy away from their horse, as if it is a terminal condition. This is far from the case, only that the veterinarians have not been able to successfully create awareness in regards to this condition. In fact, the navicular disease in horses has never been fully defined, and the veterinarians often use the term navicular syndrome to denote the fact. There are many theories that try to explain the condition, but none has fully explained the syndrome.
A horse with this condition is comparable to a track athlete that is diagnosed with bad feet. In both cases, the athlete just like the horse can still go back to the track and shine as long as the problem is well taken care of. In order to correctly diagnose the condition, the veterinarian has to rely on the clinical as well as radiographic signs. The x-rays images are important to help the vet rule out other possible causes of lameness such as a simple sole bruise, a heel bruise, and the crack of the coffin bone.
The most common sign the vet will normally notice is a history of the front leg lameness which can be gradual. At times, the lameness can be observed on both front feet. The other sign is a history stumbling and developing a choppy gait that appears to be uncomfortable. The condition is also more common with the thoroghbreds and the quarterhorses than other breeds as they are larger in size and rests on small feet. The onset of signs is also common at the age of 7 to 14 although it can occur at any age.
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.
However, the injection with the steroids is resorted to when the pain is suspected to be originating from the coffin joint or the navicular bursa. The steroids do not cure the underlying pathology issues and is therefore not a cure.
When it comes to the causes, there are no particular causes; instead, the condition is associated with several possible conditions. As such, there are rare cases where one treatment approach will successfully tackle the condition. In order to reduce pain and inflammation, the vets usually chose Bute, particularly at the early stages of the condition.
The other alternative is to inject the horse with steroids. This is the common solution in the situation where the vet suspects that the pain is originating from the navicular bursa or the coffin joint. However, the steroid is not a solution as it does nothing to cure the underlying pathology issues. The other possible solutions include the use of corrective shoeing and the neurectomy.
In case the condition is long-standing, the vet is more likely to resort to neurectomy. It is a drastic treatment that involves cutting the nerve to the foot just above the fetlock which leaves the entire foot dead. This is not a solution for a riding horse and the horse will stumble often as it cannot tell where the feet are.
A horse with this condition is comparable to a track athlete that is diagnosed with bad feet. In both cases, the athlete just like the horse can still go back to the track and shine as long as the problem is well taken care of. In order to correctly diagnose the condition, the veterinarian has to rely on the clinical as well as radiographic signs. The x-rays images are important to help the vet rule out other possible causes of lameness such as a simple sole bruise, a heel bruise, and the crack of the coffin bone.
The most common sign the vet will normally notice is a history of the front leg lameness which can be gradual. At times, the lameness can be observed on both front feet. The other sign is a history stumbling and developing a choppy gait that appears to be uncomfortable. The condition is also more common with the thoroghbreds and the quarterhorses than other breeds as they are larger in size and rests on small feet. The onset of signs is also common at the age of 7 to 14 although it can occur at any age.
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.
However, the injection with the steroids is resorted to when the pain is suspected to be originating from the coffin joint or the navicular bursa. The steroids do not cure the underlying pathology issues and is therefore not a cure.
When it comes to the causes, there are no particular causes; instead, the condition is associated with several possible conditions. As such, there are rare cases where one treatment approach will successfully tackle the condition. In order to reduce pain and inflammation, the vets usually chose Bute, particularly at the early stages of the condition.
The other alternative is to inject the horse with steroids. This is the common solution in the situation where the vet suspects that the pain is originating from the navicular bursa or the coffin joint. However, the steroid is not a solution as it does nothing to cure the underlying pathology issues. The other possible solutions include the use of corrective shoeing and the neurectomy.
In case the condition is long-standing, the vet is more likely to resort to neurectomy. It is a drastic treatment that involves cutting the nerve to the foot just above the fetlock which leaves the entire foot dead. This is not a solution for a riding horse and the horse will stumble often as it cannot tell where the feet are.
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