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Points On 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.

Hoof care is basically the commonly used method of curing. It is however a subject of debate as for example corrective shoeing is only purposed to be beneficial for some time, as the effects are only temporal. Others debate that removing the shoes off the horses is the best treatment and best way to manage the disease as it will allow increased blood circulation in the foot.

Experts advise horse owners who may choose to use the shoeing method to treat the syndrome to use a shoe that is intended to lift as well as support the heels. This is attained through using a flat shoe and trimming solely. People are often using bar type shoes which makes their toes look rolled. Animals with long toes and low heels need careful trimming so as to counter this.

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.

Surgery is usually the last option if the disease is severe and no other medication has worked. Surgeries of the bones can be done to eliminate the lameness that is associated with the syndrome. Neurectomy procedure can be done on the horse and as stated above it should be the last resort due to its adverse effects. The procedure is performed on both front feet and difficulties that may result to this is the infection of the wound.




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