Leader Board Ad box

Points On Navicular Disease Treatment

By Raymond White


It is important to note that no single cure has been established to work or treat the syndrome. The deteriorating changes are irreversible especially in circumstances where the horse is lame. For such cases only therapy can be done to improve the condition. Horse keepers are therefore recommended to manage the problem as early as possible as treating it is almost impossible. This article 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.

Another major contributing factor is a poor hoof shape that is usually inherited. This is usually brought by poor trimming and poor shoeing of the hooves on the horses. Long toes on the other hand leads to compression of the bone whereby if the heel is low the navicular bone is strained and stressed from the tendons being strained and stressed as well.

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.

Another type of treatment that has been advocated by experts is exercise. Horses that have the syndrome need less extreme schedule of work. The horse fitness can be retained through swimming or walking slow long distances. Making them do all manner of jumping and galloping will only increase the symptoms of the syndrome. Hoof care experts and practitioners have recommended the exercise of these animals on terrains that are subtle so as to strengthen the hoof structures.

Working is also a leading cause of the syndrome. Working on steep hills as well as jumping and galloping all lead to the syndrome. Working or galloping on steep heels places great stress onto the tendons and may lead to the over-extension of pastern intersections. Exercising regularly on grounds that are irregular increases pressure onto the hoof thus increasing the risk of having the syndrome.

Another major cause that was mentioned before is extoses. This is basically excess tension on bone ligaments. This leads to the ligaments attaching themselves to the bone consequently forming a canoe shape. The tension increases and the ligaments are unable to hold up together therefore tearing. Henceforth, with the ligaments tearing the navicular bone is exposed and the disease slowly starts to form.

On the early stages of the syndrome horses start to develop heel pain. Irregular lameness that is mild may begin to show even as early as when the syndrome starts to develop and progress becoming severe where the horse can barely even walk.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment