People usually run away from a horse when they hear that it is suffering from navicular syndrome. This mostly used to happen a few years back. However, this idea is gradually changing as years go since people continuously get a better understanding of the condition. Previously, this was not the case as people feared the condition without understanding what it really was. People can now have a clear understanding of the condition due to the availability of better imaging technology. This is worth knowing about Navicular disease in horses.
A decade ago, any condition that affected the heel of equines was labeled as navicular syndrome. A lot of myths and misconceptions surrounded this disease that people were justified to fear it. Today, some of the condition that were labeled as navicula can be safely classified as not navicula. It is now well understood that there are several conditions that can affect the heels of horses besides navicular.
It is possible to treat some of these diseases but others are impossible to treat. It has now been understood that certain breeds of horses are more vulnerable to navicular syndrome than others. The level of effect the syndrome causes to the animal also varies depending on the breed. Today, horses live for many years as compared to previous years. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the owner to detect the condition in the animal(s) in good time and find ways of managing it.
There is a specific place within the heel of a horse where the navicular bone is situated. The bone is associated with a number of soft tissue structures which are located in all sides. Navicular bursa, coffic bone, collateral sesamoidean ligament, digital flexor tendon and impar ligaments are some of these structures. There is a central marrow cavity in the bone which has small channels. The channel holds the nerves and blood vessels of the bone.
A number of various causes have been related with navicula syndrome. Some main cauces are problems in the flexor surface or flexor tendon, issues with the navicula bone and inflammation in supporting ligaments. These issues mostly happen in performance horses, that is, horses that people use for performance. The condition mainly leads to chronic lameness of the forelimbs in equines.
This condition has been diagnosed in a wide range of horses, but research is showing some form of breed predisposition. Horse breeds that are predisposed to this condition include warmbloods, Thoroughbreds, and Quarter Horses. Diagnoses in these breeds are higher than in any other breed of horses. Diagnosis tends to be done within the age bracket of 7 and 14 years.
Horses also get predisposed to the disorder due to conformation abnormalities in hooves, disproportionally small feet, sheared heels, underrun heels, contracted heels, and mismatched hoof angles. Even though both front limbs get infected, the condition usually has different levels of severity in the two limbs. The affects are usually more severe in one limb than the other.
Treatment options for navicular syndrome have continued to increase over the years. Horse owners are no longer tied to traditional treatment options. Also, diagnoses can be made more accurately, with the invention of better MRI technology. MRI scanning is the standards imaging procedure for this condition today.
A decade ago, any condition that affected the heel of equines was labeled as navicular syndrome. A lot of myths and misconceptions surrounded this disease that people were justified to fear it. Today, some of the condition that were labeled as navicula can be safely classified as not navicula. It is now well understood that there are several conditions that can affect the heels of horses besides navicular.
It is possible to treat some of these diseases but others are impossible to treat. It has now been understood that certain breeds of horses are more vulnerable to navicular syndrome than others. The level of effect the syndrome causes to the animal also varies depending on the breed. Today, horses live for many years as compared to previous years. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the owner to detect the condition in the animal(s) in good time and find ways of managing it.
There is a specific place within the heel of a horse where the navicular bone is situated. The bone is associated with a number of soft tissue structures which are located in all sides. Navicular bursa, coffic bone, collateral sesamoidean ligament, digital flexor tendon and impar ligaments are some of these structures. There is a central marrow cavity in the bone which has small channels. The channel holds the nerves and blood vessels of the bone.
A number of various causes have been related with navicula syndrome. Some main cauces are problems in the flexor surface or flexor tendon, issues with the navicula bone and inflammation in supporting ligaments. These issues mostly happen in performance horses, that is, horses that people use for performance. The condition mainly leads to chronic lameness of the forelimbs in equines.
This condition has been diagnosed in a wide range of horses, but research is showing some form of breed predisposition. Horse breeds that are predisposed to this condition include warmbloods, Thoroughbreds, and Quarter Horses. Diagnoses in these breeds are higher than in any other breed of horses. Diagnosis tends to be done within the age bracket of 7 and 14 years.
Horses also get predisposed to the disorder due to conformation abnormalities in hooves, disproportionally small feet, sheared heels, underrun heels, contracted heels, and mismatched hoof angles. Even though both front limbs get infected, the condition usually has different levels of severity in the two limbs. The affects are usually more severe in one limb than the other.
Treatment options for navicular syndrome have continued to increase over the years. Horse owners are no longer tied to traditional treatment options. Also, diagnoses can be made more accurately, with the invention of better MRI technology. MRI scanning is the standards imaging procedure for this condition today.
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Navicular disease in horses can be dangerous if left untreated. To know more about this disease, visit the blog posts that appear at http://www.naviculardisease.com.
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