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Thursday 26 March 2015

How Navicular Pain Affects Horses


By Lelia Hall


This is a disease that arises from the inflammation of the navicular bone and tissues surrounding the area. It affects the front feet of a horse. As the bone gets subjected to continuous compression, degeneration happens. The cartilage flattens and soon becomes less shock absorbing and springy. The syndrome causes navicular pain on the heel area and eventually leads to lameness in athletic horses.

A sick horse shows it is feeling pain through avoiding pressure on the bone and transferring this pressure to its toe. A sick horse will also take longer to stop. As it stands still, the ailing horse shifts its standing position. It does this ease pressure on its painful bone. It is comforting for the horse.

A positive prognosis of the disease is arrived at through observing clinical signs and through radiography. A veterinarian is able to treat the horse once they identify sickness through x-rays. A comprehensive physical examination of infected horses hoof area serves as confirmation about the presence of a malady. Again, a sick horse will clearly give the identifying signs which will enable a veterinarian detect presence of particular syndrome.

Testers applied on the painful spot will reveal that the horse is indeed sick with the syndrome. A flinching response will correspond directly to the application of pressure on a sick navicular bone. The most affected hoof of a horse will appear smaller in comparison with the apparent healthier hoof. This is because the horses will constantly shift weight to the deceptively healthier leg.

A sick horse can be restored to its original peak performing activities. This can be made possible should the proper treatment and tender care be applied. The disease does not kill the horse. If an athlete has problems with any part of their legs, it does not mean the end of their sporting activities. It only makes them adequately aware of their problem leading to better care of their legs. A similar situation arises where with horses afflicted.

The syndrome infects both of front feet of the horses. A casual examination may only pick the infection on one leg. The nervous system of the apparently healthier leg soon gets blockaded leading to a limb on the other leg. A red flag is raised with this limping helping the veterinarian pinpoint the ailment on this leg.

The foundation of the remedial treatment for any horse afflicted by the disease involves picking a right choice where horse shoeing is concerned. It involves not making frequent corrective shoe adjustments since most horses get the malady from faulty long shoes or under-run heels. A technique to fix the malady involves having the hooves made to balance from the front to the back and from side to side. This eases the ache for the horse. Each front hoof must be made to be parallel to the pastern line and the shoes back.

Isoxsuprine is another good remedial option to take. It has proved quite successful so far in treating this syndrome. It promotes blood flow and circulation. It also assists in blood vessels dilution upon an afflicted navicular bone. Good exercise also enhances blood circulation.




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