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Essential Details About Navicular Horses

By Cynthia Peterson


The equines are mostly prone to challenging health issues that affect their hoof area due to their vibrant activities they are subjected to. These issues constitute to the navicular horses ailment which is a deteriorative condition that affects the scaphoid bone at the feet region. It assumes a saucer shape and is located at proximate of both the coffin and pastern bones. The malady affects the bursa and the deep digital flexor tendon thus leading to a lame condition and inflammation as well.

The swelling is fueled through wearing and tearing as the horse ages whereas the syndrome is commonly evidenced in nag ones. The lameness can affect all horse breeds. However, the impact is usually seen more in some breeds like the warm-bloods and thoroughbreds among others. Overweight horsey animals with reduced hooves are usually at a higher risk profile of palmar foot pain syndrome and other foot conditions.

Non-acquiesce practices increase the chances of developing the caudal pains. This involves the continuous use of mismatching pastern angles. This practice is tragic since it causes the deep digital flexor tendon to overstretch beyond its limit. It thus results in building up of pressure on the scaphoid bone and other adjacent skeletal structures. Failure to follow a scheduled hoof cutting is also a contributing factor that triggers the intensification of palmar foot pain.

The caudal heel pain typically affects both front feet but in varied degrees making one foot to be more painful than the other. This feature is essential since it easily unveils the condition for easy visibility. It is vividly observed through short-striding in both limbs majorly when the horse is navigating tight corners or circles. This results to the foot landing in a toe-to-heel posture which is contrary to the normal heel-to-toe landing.

Uniquely, the veterinarians have induced a radiographing approach in managing the condition since it can never be completely healed. This process is used in diagnosing the syndrome although it has failed to outline a clear relationship between the heel pain and the bone changes. This has led to the use of an upgraded approach; the magnetic resonance imaging which has the ability to show problems affecting the soft tissues surrounding the scaphoid bone.

The ailment is usually managed with the view of reducing the pain and tension around the tendon and other surrounding structures. This is made a reality by sequestering the horse with a layup period in the paddocked stall. This allows the affected structures to recover. Another alleviating strategy is by rearing the equines at the correct body weight to avoid stress within the tendon tissues. Regular hoof trimming should also be incorporated to maintain the right pastern angles.

In addition, appropriate shoeing exercise is also essential in the remedy since it improves the horse comfort through balancing. Hormonal steroid medications are also channeled on some breeds. In some cases, the pain may be obstinate and uncontrollable, this forces the veterinarians to adopt the neurectomy therapy. It involves getting rid of nerves leading to the affected area. As a result, it makes the horse not to feel bruised cavities, lameness and other related conditions.

Thus, the horse navicular syndrome is usually a collective of varied symptoms that cause discomfort to the equines. These conditions can be managed accordingly by use of treatment management techniques. They are designed to increase striding comfort and relieving swelling and tension on the affected areas.




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