Saturday 29 June 2019

Notes On Navicular Disease Treatment

By Raymond White


There are major causes of the syndrome that are known however, there are other certain conformational weaknesses that may contribute to the navicular disease. These are majorly defects that endorse concussions. These defects are inclusive of, but not limited to long toes with low heels, narrow but upright feet as well as small feet and upright pasterns. This comprehension explains further on navicular disease treatment.

The major factor known to cause the syndrome is compression. This occurs as a result of the navicular bone being compressed where the tendon as well as the back of the pastern bone are trodden. Continuous compression of the bone results into the cartilage levelling and becoming less springy and less shock absorbing. This in turn causes cartilage deterioration.

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.

The horses hooves keeps expanding and contracting so as to allow easy blood flow to the lower extremities. Therefore, when a shoe that is inflexible is fitted improperly onto the hoof, the blood flow is inhibited and the hoof is unable to work as intended. However, this is not to mean that the disease solely occurs due to the modern way of doing things as records show navicular degeneration even in the fossil record of early horses.

It goes without saying that even with the numerous ways of curing recommended by experts medicines must be included in the treatment. The horses are given vasodilators during the early phase of the syndrome so as improve the blood flow. Anticolugants are also used however for this, general intensive care is required thus tend to be unsuitable in most cases.

The pain and lameness can be resolved using anti-inflammatory drugs. The drugs may be inclusive of joint medications that relieve the joint pain. Other medications such as gallium nitrate have been tested on animals with the navicular syndrome but have not been fully confirmed by the medical practitioners as a full treatment.

Experts that have over the years researched on this syndrome, have found a correlation between the toe fast landing walking technique on horses and the syndrome itself. Thus, they have concluded that the walking technique may actually be the leading cause of the syndrome. This technique results into tendon inflammation and bone alterations.




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