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Getting Conversant With Navicular Disease

By Francis Riggs


Navicular bone degenerative disease commonly affects horses. It involves debasement and an inflammatory reaction in the affected bone. The condition may spread to involve the tissues near the bone. The animal may become lame from the navicular disease which at times is significant or incapacitating.

The factors that have been identified to cause this include conformation, genetics, diet and activity level of the horses. Horses which are used to compete in sports have a higher risk to suffer compared to those utilized for recreational purposes only.

As a result of tension and swelling of supportive ligaments of bone, blood flow may decline and pressure increase within the affected hoof. Heel pain is the most common manifestation. The lameness may start intermittently but thereafter become severe.

In an effort to transfer weight onto the toes, animals suffering from this disease usually land on their toes rather than the heel. Stumbling or loss of coordination may be observed too. The lameness can be seen in both feet but sometimes may be switching from leg to leg periodically from overcompensation. The pattern of occurrence may not be consistent.

The lameness is usually evident when the animal is worked in circles or on a surface that is hard. If the disease progresses for several weeks, the shape of feet may begin changing. This is more often evident in the most affected foot. It takes a more upright shape and also becomes narrow.

Traditional methods available to manage this syndrome deal with relieving the symptoms temporarily. They therefore are not effective in reversal or halting deteriorative effects of the disease. They do not result to structural progress either. The focus is on increase of the animal comfort level and coping ability in the short term. However the physiological level of condition continues to progress.

Equi-bone is a product in the market to help horses suffering from bone diseases to top up nutrients which help to increase bone mass and rebuild bones at the same time. When the nutrients are in the required amounts in the body, more calcium is pumped inside the bones for storage. The effect of this is mineral content of the bones going up. The sensitivity of bones is minimized and bone strength increased. This is to help as the bone goes through rebuilding process. A predetermined loading rate is fed to the animal while in transition after been diagnosed with a deteriorative disease or injury. This is given for 5 months. Thereafter it is switched to maintenance regimen to ensure the bone continues being healthy.

The results of equi-bone feeding program are to be maintained. An animal has to go about remodeling by its own and to supplement this is important in order to make sure the process goes on consistently. This minimizes return of the condition over time. One scoop, two times a day of equi-bone are fed as maintenance protocol. This ensures for soundness and good health of the animal.




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