Dealing With The Navicular Syndrome

By Dora Reed


This syndrome is also usually referred to as the navicular disease. It is a soundness issue that affects horses in general. This disease affects the front feet of the horse usually, that is the bone and tissue around it too. Navicular syndrome causes inflammatory sensations and can lead to deformation of bones. This later on leads to lameness of the horse.

A number of causes have been associated with this disease. Compression tendencies are one of these causes. Excessive compressive forces acting upon the ligaments and other tissues make them to degenerate. With time they lose form and the animal starts experiencing trouble while moving. Continued deformation causes the cartilage to erode and hence pain is felt.

Also tension on the tissue connecting the bones may cause the disease. High tension acting directly on the ligaments commences the degeneration process in the feet. In excess, the tension may lead to strain too. Continued straining of this ligament causes its thickening which in turn hinders blood movement. With increased strain and constrained blood flow, deformation starts to happen.

A number of other factors also cause this condition in horses. These range from the weight of a horse, shoeing and work on steep terrain. Horses with large weights and yet small foot sizes are at risk mostly. Improper fitting of horse shoes and bad trimming are also known to cause the illness. Just like human shoes, one has to be very careful when choosing horse shoes.

This disease exhibits a number of signs and symptoms. These horses experience pain in their heels as they run or move around. They will also show lameness tendencies or struggle to move. This begins slightly and worsens with time if not treated. Some affected horses are seen trying to tiptoe due to the pain in the heels.

No single remedy is known yet for this disease. This is perhaps due to the fact that no single cause has been established. A number of remedies are known to have been successful in the management and treatment of this illness. One of them is proper trimming. Proper balance of foot elements is very crucial in avoiding and management of this disease.

It is also important that the horses get frequent hoof care. Use of corrective shoes can also prove very helpful. It corrects foot imbalances and allows for proper blood flow. The effects are sometimes temporary though. It is also advised that at times the horses should o minus shoes. This allows for healthy circulation. Infected horses also need regular exercise. This exercise should be light as intense work may worsen the situation.

There is also medication in place for this illness. One of the medicines used is the vasodilator. This medication increases and regulates blood movement in the feet. Anticoagulants are also used to treat the illness. These too enhance the flow of blood hence preventing the illness. Surgical remedies are used as last resort solutions due to the risks involved.




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