Saturday 28 February 2015

Treating Navicular Disease In Horses

By Olivia Cross


In the past few years, theories and various methods of treatment involving our domestic animals have been formed including ideas developed by the veterinarians. Navicular disease in horses has been a cause of disagreement and discussed for quite some time now. The professional veterinarians have given names relating to this type of disease. However the accepted vernacular name is caudal heel pain. It is not a good feeling to have a horse diagnosed with this form of illness. However, if proper treatment is carried out this disease can be eradicated.

While treating caudal heel pain the most practical solution has been through shoeing and trimming. The primary notion of these methods is to lower the tension that result when the animal is in movement that result to more pressure been inflicted on the heel. Another option that has been used over time to reduce this form of pressure is the use of wedge. All these available option should be selected wisely.

The next method, which might also be applied, is the use of non-steroidal medicines to reduce inflammation. Many veterinarians have recommended these drugs and correctly pointed out on phenylbutazone which an adequate remedy on mild as well as on the medium illness. However, this medication has been noted to have some side effects such as gastric ulcers, and for this reason firocoxib is the most recommended drug since it has no side effects.

Hence, if not all this primary treatment works, application of an injection drug known as corticosteroid can be used as an alternative. The drug is injected directly to the ailing part where it reduces the inflammation in the inner part of the foot. Once the steroid is injected, it may take up to 14 days to actually heal.

There are wide ranges of treatment methods, which are tailored towards healing of caudal heel pain. Hyaluronic acid is one of them and is used together with extracorporeal wave treatment. This Hyaluronic acid medication is administered through injection into the affected region it can also be rendered through IV method. The drug has a significant result in reducing inflammation in the part affected.

Human medication such as the one used in treating osteopetrosis in human has also come a long way in treating caudal heel pain. This type of medication is now gaining acceptance also in treatment of navicular resorption also found in domesticated animals. The drug is administered through perfusion of the affected region. The principal aim of all these methods is actually to relieve pain on the injured foot.

The doctor has various method that can be applied to relieve the caudal heel pain. One of the main methods includes completely severing the nerves that are used in supplying sensation towards into the back of the foot it is also known as the neurectomy. This is an efficient method and can completely heal in less than five years.

Finally, we can openly conclude that these diseases are nowhere close to being terminal. Their main causes are closely connected to trauma and reduction blood shortage in the foot zone. Threatens should be always be done at clinical and radiographic symptom level.




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