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Vital Details Navicular Disease Treatment

By Raymond White


This is a type of syndrome that mostly affects horses whereby the front foot bone and the tissues surrounding it becomes inflammated and degenerated. Severe navicular syndrome leads to lameness and the horse or the affected animal is unable to walk. There is no known cause of this syndrome however, there are different theories and some major causes of this disease. This editorial expounds further on navicular disease treatment.

The long toe low heel conformation usually place persistent stress onto the bone, even as the animal is upright. The standing heel on the other hand will increase concussions especially in the heel region, specifically in the heel area on the hoof where the bone is usually located. More impact is normally transmitted onto the structures within the bone as the excessive concussions may not react well with the ligaments designed to do so.

The tendon on bone becomes eroded due to continuous compression normally along the flexor tissue. Experts have researched and concluded that the syndrome is similar to osteothritis and therapeutic regimes used for osteothritis are also recommended for the disease. In some severe cases the erosion of the cartilage may increase to the point where the bone underneath becomes exposed and visible.

Consequently, as the compression persists the bone that is under the cartilage increases its density on the flexor tissue. The effect of this leads to bone becoming brittle and easy to break. Inflammation of bone may also occur even if the cartilage is not severely damaged. This happens as a result of the friction between the tendon and bone due to compression as well.

Another type of treatment that has been advocated by experts is exercise. Horses that have the syndrome need less extreme schedule of work. The horse fitness can be retained through swimming or walking slow long distances. Making them do all manner of jumping and galloping will only increase the symptoms of the syndrome. Hoof care experts and practitioners have recommended the exercise of these animals on terrains that are subtle so as to strengthen the hoof structures.

Working is also a leading cause of the syndrome. Working on steep hills as well as jumping and galloping all lead to the syndrome. Working or galloping on steep heels places great stress onto the tendons and may lead to the over-extension of pastern intersections. Exercising regularly on grounds that are irregular increases pressure onto the hoof thus increasing the risk of having the syndrome.

Another major cause that was mentioned before is extoses. This is basically excess tension on bone ligaments. This leads to the ligaments attaching themselves to the bone consequently forming a canoe shape. The tension increases and the ligaments are unable to hold up together therefore tearing. Henceforth, with the ligaments tearing the navicular bone is exposed and the disease slowly starts to form.

On the early stages of the syndrome horses start to develop heel pain. Irregular lameness that is mild may begin to show even as early as when the syndrome starts to develop and progress becoming severe where the horse can barely even walk.




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