Navicular syndrome is a disease of the navicular bone that affects the equine family especially horses. The condition is caused by degeneration and inflammation of the bone and supporting tissues. Failure to take fast and effective measures to treat navicular disease can cause serious or disabling lameness. Equine forelimb anatomy needs to be understood first for one to understand this problem well.
The problem is revealed through many signs. Paining heels is one of the most common signs. Lameness progresses to severe levels after starting mildly and intermittently. Lameness is caused by several factors such as erosion of cartilage, reduced blood flow, increased pressure in hooves, inflammation of supportive ligaments, and damaged bones and tendons.
The posture the animal assumes when walking can tell if it is in pain. Some stumble frequently and because of hurting heels, display a tiptoe gait. Although both front feet get affected, one is normally worse than the other. Lameness switches feet at times with no observable pattern. Hard surfaces or walking in circles make the problem to get worse. The most affected foot may start losing shape after hurting for several months.
There are many causes and contributing factors for this condition in equines. The first cause is compression of navicular bone under the DDF tendon. It takes several months of repeated compression in this region for cartilage degeneration to occur. Cartilage degeneration causes it to flatten and become less springy hence losing its ability to absorb shock. Cartilage erosion may also occur in some cases. Some researchers have found a connection between this condition and osteoarthritis, therefore similar therapeutic regimes may be suggested.
Tension on ligaments that support the navicular bone is also a cause. Some professionals believe that inflammation and stress is caused in the impar ligament because of too much tension. The strain and inflammation causes blood flow from and to the bone to decrease. Blood flowing to the bone is less obstructed than that leaving because arteries are less compressed than veins. As a result there is a built up of blood pressure. Ligaments are torn and exostoses caused if tension is too great.
The third most common cause is toe-first landing. Toe-first landing results from misaligned lower joints in most cases. Bones and deep digital flexor tendons are strained with this landing causing bones to be modified. Poor shoeing, over-trimming of heels or frog, and long toes also lead to toe-first landing.
Major factors that contribute to the syndrome are shoeing, work, body weight, and conformation. Conformational defects especially those which promote concussion are the major contributing factors. Conformational defects include low heels with long toes, significant downhill build, small feet, upright pasterns, and narrow and upright feet. These defects contribute by causing constant stress on tendons, ligaments, and bones in feet. The syndrome may also develop due to galloping, jumping, and working on steep terrains.
This disease has several treatment options. Trimming, exercise, medication, surgery, and hoof care are the major treatments available. It should be known that not all cases can be treated by any single treatment method. For complete recovery, some methods need to be combined.
The problem is revealed through many signs. Paining heels is one of the most common signs. Lameness progresses to severe levels after starting mildly and intermittently. Lameness is caused by several factors such as erosion of cartilage, reduced blood flow, increased pressure in hooves, inflammation of supportive ligaments, and damaged bones and tendons.
The posture the animal assumes when walking can tell if it is in pain. Some stumble frequently and because of hurting heels, display a tiptoe gait. Although both front feet get affected, one is normally worse than the other. Lameness switches feet at times with no observable pattern. Hard surfaces or walking in circles make the problem to get worse. The most affected foot may start losing shape after hurting for several months.
There are many causes and contributing factors for this condition in equines. The first cause is compression of navicular bone under the DDF tendon. It takes several months of repeated compression in this region for cartilage degeneration to occur. Cartilage degeneration causes it to flatten and become less springy hence losing its ability to absorb shock. Cartilage erosion may also occur in some cases. Some researchers have found a connection between this condition and osteoarthritis, therefore similar therapeutic regimes may be suggested.
Tension on ligaments that support the navicular bone is also a cause. Some professionals believe that inflammation and stress is caused in the impar ligament because of too much tension. The strain and inflammation causes blood flow from and to the bone to decrease. Blood flowing to the bone is less obstructed than that leaving because arteries are less compressed than veins. As a result there is a built up of blood pressure. Ligaments are torn and exostoses caused if tension is too great.
The third most common cause is toe-first landing. Toe-first landing results from misaligned lower joints in most cases. Bones and deep digital flexor tendons are strained with this landing causing bones to be modified. Poor shoeing, over-trimming of heels or frog, and long toes also lead to toe-first landing.
Major factors that contribute to the syndrome are shoeing, work, body weight, and conformation. Conformational defects especially those which promote concussion are the major contributing factors. Conformational defects include low heels with long toes, significant downhill build, small feet, upright pasterns, and narrow and upright feet. These defects contribute by causing constant stress on tendons, ligaments, and bones in feet. The syndrome may also develop due to galloping, jumping, and working on steep terrains.
This disease has several treatment options. Trimming, exercise, medication, surgery, and hoof care are the major treatments available. It should be known that not all cases can be treated by any single treatment method. For complete recovery, some methods need to be combined.
About the Author:
You can visit www.naviculardisease.com for more helpful information about Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment For Navicular Disease.
No comments:
Post a Comment