There are certain kinds of diseases that affect horses while remain unknown in donkeys and ponies. One such example is the navicular syndrome. This condition is a major cause of chronic forelimb lameness in horses, especially those used for athletic purposes. The condition is degenerative and involves loss of medullary architecture, bone sclerosis, traumatic, fibrillation, and enthesiophyte formation. The disease was discovered long ago and continues to be a problem to date.
The syndrome results from complex pathogenesis rather than a particular disease entity. However, researchers link biochemical and vascular components to it. Additionally, there is a belief that the disease could be hereditary following the decrease in cases after stallions with the conditions were disallowed certification for breeding. The condition seems to be characteristic in mature horses because it does not appear until the animal is 8 to 10 years old.
The process of disease and the degree of lameness are influenced by how the distal limb is conformed. Excess pressure on the hoof-pastern, under run heels, and long toes are among the key causes of this illness in horses. Excess pressure is placed on the flexor tendons and the navicular bones when the aforementioned factors occur. Additionally, those factors also cause the navicular bursitis and the fibrocartilage to be damaged.
The disease progresses through stages and the latter stages are normally worse. During early phases of disease, intermittent lameness is observable, but there is no observable head nod because the disease is normally bilateral in nature. Intermittent lameness becomes more visible when moving the animal in circles. Another additional symptom one can observe at this stage is shortened strides. Circular motion can make the situation worse for the animal.
Age and breed of an animal are some of the factors based on when making a diagnosis. Performing a lameness examination should show a characteristic to palmar digital nerve anesthesia by the animal. Some studies only revealed 11% of positive results from hoof testers, making the test to be regarded as not sufficient in all cases. Anesthesia of navicular bursa seems to be the most effective and precise diagnosis process. However, owing to the amount of pain involved and the complexity of the injection, this process is not performed during lameness examination.
The chronic and degenerative nature of the condition makes it impossible to cure, especially if the damage done is already too much. However, it can be managed very well in some animals. Treatments that are commonly used are administration of NSAID and use of corrective shoes. Of the many NSAID available, phenylbutazone is the commonest. Phenylbutazone presents a lot of adverse effects such as GI and renal injury and should always be used with care.
In cases where the lameness is much worse, efficiency of drugs could be limited, leaving rest as the only recommendable treatment. Incorporating foot care measures can also work well together with drugs. The alignment and balance of phalangeal could be restored by trimming and shoeing the hooves. A period of two weeks is enough to determine if the shoeing is effective.
It is recommendable to seek assistance immediately the condition is discovered. Animals can be disabled by severe cases. Animals feel a lot of pain if not treated in time.
The syndrome results from complex pathogenesis rather than a particular disease entity. However, researchers link biochemical and vascular components to it. Additionally, there is a belief that the disease could be hereditary following the decrease in cases after stallions with the conditions were disallowed certification for breeding. The condition seems to be characteristic in mature horses because it does not appear until the animal is 8 to 10 years old.
The process of disease and the degree of lameness are influenced by how the distal limb is conformed. Excess pressure on the hoof-pastern, under run heels, and long toes are among the key causes of this illness in horses. Excess pressure is placed on the flexor tendons and the navicular bones when the aforementioned factors occur. Additionally, those factors also cause the navicular bursitis and the fibrocartilage to be damaged.
The disease progresses through stages and the latter stages are normally worse. During early phases of disease, intermittent lameness is observable, but there is no observable head nod because the disease is normally bilateral in nature. Intermittent lameness becomes more visible when moving the animal in circles. Another additional symptom one can observe at this stage is shortened strides. Circular motion can make the situation worse for the animal.
Age and breed of an animal are some of the factors based on when making a diagnosis. Performing a lameness examination should show a characteristic to palmar digital nerve anesthesia by the animal. Some studies only revealed 11% of positive results from hoof testers, making the test to be regarded as not sufficient in all cases. Anesthesia of navicular bursa seems to be the most effective and precise diagnosis process. However, owing to the amount of pain involved and the complexity of the injection, this process is not performed during lameness examination.
The chronic and degenerative nature of the condition makes it impossible to cure, especially if the damage done is already too much. However, it can be managed very well in some animals. Treatments that are commonly used are administration of NSAID and use of corrective shoes. Of the many NSAID available, phenylbutazone is the commonest. Phenylbutazone presents a lot of adverse effects such as GI and renal injury and should always be used with care.
In cases where the lameness is much worse, efficiency of drugs could be limited, leaving rest as the only recommendable treatment. Incorporating foot care measures can also work well together with drugs. The alignment and balance of phalangeal could be restored by trimming and shoeing the hooves. A period of two weeks is enough to determine if the shoeing is effective.
It is recommendable to seek assistance immediately the condition is discovered. Animals can be disabled by severe cases. Animals feel a lot of pain if not treated in time.
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