Identifying And Treating Navicular Disease
A lot of effort should be put into caring for a horse. They deserve a lot of care because if they are neglected, they tend to get sickly. A horse owner should be ready for extra expenses since a horse may get hurt or become sick. The navicular disease describes any disease causing pain in the area of the navicular bone. Its effect is visible on the front limbs.
A horse owner can check for this disease symptoms. However, it is only advisable for a professional to do it. Some symptoms include: shortened strides and lameness. Lameness in horses with this disease, is normally severe when they are constantly at work. It lessens when they get some rest. Another sign is when the horse constantly shifts weight to relieve pressure on the heel.
There is no precise reason for this condition. However, some say it is due to improper shoeing practices and perhaps irregular farrier care. Unbalanced hooves can also be a factor. Horses that do work mostly involving their front legs or those that work where there are rocky surfaces, could also be at risk. This leads to limited oxygenation around the hoof.
There are a couple of ways to treat this disease. One method is the shoeing treatment. Each case should be treated individually as each horse is different. This method allows for the balancing of hooves on every side. The horse will go back to its regular heel to toe landing and not vice versa. Horse shoes have different designs needed for different horse hooves.
We also have medical treatment which involves the use of drugs. This helps to increase blood flow in the affected area. Another treatment involves exercise. This is also meant to improve circulation. The animal is trained to bear more weight on the hind legs therefore, giving release to the front ones which are painful.
Your last move should be to let the horse undergo surgery. There are two methods used here. The surgery could either involve the cutting of a ligament or a neurectomy. The latter procedure involves cutting the nerve that detects pain in the navicular bone. This is not a permanent cure. A horse owner will have to repeat it to maintain soundness.
Surgery always has its ups and downs. The nerve may grow again causing more pain to the animal. Moreover, there could also be a growth of benign tumors. This could be found at the base of the cut nerve. Veterinary officers have come up with procedures to rectify these problems. However, as advised this method should be used when necessary.
Always monitor your horse to know when it is acting off. If it has difficulty going downhill and moving while on hard ground you should definitely investigate further. You are likely to miss some of these signs so when in doubt look for a veterinary. Your horse will eventually be back in shape and back to its original activities. If best care is taken, dealing with this disease is not a problem. Once symptoms are detected do not waste time, consult an expert.
A horse owner can check for this disease symptoms. However, it is only advisable for a professional to do it. Some symptoms include: shortened strides and lameness. Lameness in horses with this disease, is normally severe when they are constantly at work. It lessens when they get some rest. Another sign is when the horse constantly shifts weight to relieve pressure on the heel.
There is no precise reason for this condition. However, some say it is due to improper shoeing practices and perhaps irregular farrier care. Unbalanced hooves can also be a factor. Horses that do work mostly involving their front legs or those that work where there are rocky surfaces, could also be at risk. This leads to limited oxygenation around the hoof.
There are a couple of ways to treat this disease. One method is the shoeing treatment. Each case should be treated individually as each horse is different. This method allows for the balancing of hooves on every side. The horse will go back to its regular heel to toe landing and not vice versa. Horse shoes have different designs needed for different horse hooves.
We also have medical treatment which involves the use of drugs. This helps to increase blood flow in the affected area. Another treatment involves exercise. This is also meant to improve circulation. The animal is trained to bear more weight on the hind legs therefore, giving release to the front ones which are painful.
Your last move should be to let the horse undergo surgery. There are two methods used here. The surgery could either involve the cutting of a ligament or a neurectomy. The latter procedure involves cutting the nerve that detects pain in the navicular bone. This is not a permanent cure. A horse owner will have to repeat it to maintain soundness.
Surgery always has its ups and downs. The nerve may grow again causing more pain to the animal. Moreover, there could also be a growth of benign tumors. This could be found at the base of the cut nerve. Veterinary officers have come up with procedures to rectify these problems. However, as advised this method should be used when necessary.
Always monitor your horse to know when it is acting off. If it has difficulty going downhill and moving while on hard ground you should definitely investigate further. You are likely to miss some of these signs so when in doubt look for a veterinary. Your horse will eventually be back in shape and back to its original activities. If best care is taken, dealing with this disease is not a problem. Once symptoms are detected do not waste time, consult an expert.
Comments
Post a Comment