When buying a horse, the prospective buyer comes with many expectations. The most common is that through a thorough examination, they will be able to isolate the horse that will suffer the navicular syndrome. Even though this is possible, it is not easy. This is due to the fact that the veterinarians have not been able to come up with a single cause for this disease, in fact, they use syndrome instead of disease due to this fact. However, this should not send shivers down your spine, with the proper management program, the condition can be contained and the horse brought back to the level of its previous performance.
It is thus more relevant to be concerned with the right management techniques for the condition. However, it is not possible to manage what you cannot diagnose. The veterinarians use several clinical techniques, as well as radiography to properly diagnose the condition. The radiography involves observing changes on the navicular bones of the front limbs and is done to isolate any other possible causes of lameness like a crack on the coffin bone, a simple heel bruise, or a sole bruise.
The radiography alone cannot give a conclusive diagnosis given that some horses have changes on their navicular bones, even if they are free of the diseases. When examining horses for sale, it has been observed that up to one third may have these changes even though most of them never develop the condition in their lifetime.
The selective nerve block is a common procedure that the vet uses for their clinical tests. They are also interested in the lameness history of the horse. If the lameness is observed on one or both of the front limbs and is gradual, then the horse is most likely to be a victim.
There are a number of risk factors that the vets look for in their diagnosis. These are the breed and the horse age. Generally, the horses with bigger bodies supported with small legs are at higher risk. These include the thoroughbreds and the quarterhorses. In regards to age factor, the disease onset is at the age of 7 to 14.
There are several methods that have shown some level of success in managing the condition. The first one is the Bute. This is a medication that helps minimize pain and inflammation and best used in the early stages of the disease. The second alternative is the injection with steroids reduces pain originating from the navicular bursa or the coffin joint.
The horse should also be given more time to rest and a way to increase blood circulation be increased. There are several alternatives to boost blood circulation. The horse can be administered with Isoxsuprine as it dilates the small blood vessels. It reduces blood clotting ability and the pony should be closely monitored for bleeding. The magnetic shoe and the anticoagulant warfarin also serve the same role.
In addition to these, the vets may consider the corrective shoeing mainly when the situation is chronic. In this case, the shoe is trimmed as necessary. The neurectomy involves cutting the nerve above the fetlock to stop the horse from feeling the pain from the foot. It is not recommended for an active horse as the horse tend to stumble more.
It is thus more relevant to be concerned with the right management techniques for the condition. However, it is not possible to manage what you cannot diagnose. The veterinarians use several clinical techniques, as well as radiography to properly diagnose the condition. The radiography involves observing changes on the navicular bones of the front limbs and is done to isolate any other possible causes of lameness like a crack on the coffin bone, a simple heel bruise, or a sole bruise.
The radiography alone cannot give a conclusive diagnosis given that some horses have changes on their navicular bones, even if they are free of the diseases. When examining horses for sale, it has been observed that up to one third may have these changes even though most of them never develop the condition in their lifetime.
The selective nerve block is a common procedure that the vet uses for their clinical tests. They are also interested in the lameness history of the horse. If the lameness is observed on one or both of the front limbs and is gradual, then the horse is most likely to be a victim.
There are a number of risk factors that the vets look for in their diagnosis. These are the breed and the horse age. Generally, the horses with bigger bodies supported with small legs are at higher risk. These include the thoroughbreds and the quarterhorses. In regards to age factor, the disease onset is at the age of 7 to 14.
There are several methods that have shown some level of success in managing the condition. The first one is the Bute. This is a medication that helps minimize pain and inflammation and best used in the early stages of the disease. The second alternative is the injection with steroids reduces pain originating from the navicular bursa or the coffin joint.
The horse should also be given more time to rest and a way to increase blood circulation be increased. There are several alternatives to boost blood circulation. The horse can be administered with Isoxsuprine as it dilates the small blood vessels. It reduces blood clotting ability and the pony should be closely monitored for bleeding. The magnetic shoe and the anticoagulant warfarin also serve the same role.
In addition to these, the vets may consider the corrective shoeing mainly when the situation is chronic. In this case, the shoe is trimmed as necessary. The neurectomy involves cutting the nerve above the fetlock to stop the horse from feeling the pain from the foot. It is not recommended for an active horse as the horse tend to stumble more.
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Discover useful facts about navicular syndrome in horses by reviewing the posts online. Get access to the articles that relate to this disease at http://www.naviculardisease.com.
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