Thursday 6 June 2019

Causes Of Navicular Disease In Horses

By Ryan Hall


The disease is one of the most common conditions of chronic forelimb disorder in athletic horses. The ailment affects the navicular bone. Some breeds can develop the state as they age. If the navicular disease in horses is not managed, it can result in death. Several factors can lead to the condition, including the infection of surrounding parts of bone. A horse can get the situation at a young age between seven and fourteen years.

When the cartilage is eroded, it exposes other joints, and eventually, the bone underneath is exposed. After the cartilage is no longer available to prevent the navicular, it leads to its straining and ultimately inflammation. Inflammation leads to decreased blood flow into the structure. Although minimal, movements will be available the movement of blood from the body part is limited, leading to accumulation of toxins hence the contraction of a condition.

Some of the early symptoms include difficulty walking, frequent stumbling, and switching of foot when walking in corners or circles. When you observe these signs, a person should avoid extraneous activities such as running or walking on rough grounds. The horse and allow the animal to rest. Diet is also essential as when the mount adds weight, and it is distributed to the feet.

The increase in pressure can result in the development of condition. When you observe the situation, a person must call on their veteran to assist with the diagnosis and treatment. Proper hoof trimming is often done to allow the pressure exerted on the leg to be distributed equally. An individual can also do shoeing, especially on those horses with small feet. This helps them with balancing.

Experts should do these practices as it can increase the chances of eliminating the pressure. The vet will also recommend the exercises that your stallion would be taken through. Additionally, an individual must ensure they watch on the diet of their horses. The signs are not a sure way of diagnosing the condition. Thus the vet would carry out other tests.

There are not drugs for the illness. However, a person can use medication that increases blood flow, or they can change their way of doing things and finally use of drugs that numb the nerve relieving pain hence allowing the horse to resume its daily activities. Radiography is also done to see the level of damage this allows the vet to see if the leg as other related problems and the level of damage.

The most effective form of treatment is surgical treatment. This involves cutting the nerve. The therapy is useful for a short period after which the nerve grows to enable the horse to feel the sensation again. During the numb period, a person should carry out the treatment. The regular examination should be done after the surgery has been performed as it can cause other complications such as excessive bleeding and the development of tumors.

Phenylbutazone medication can be used to reduce pain. Sometimes the nerves are numbed to allow the bone to heal. The state can be prevented through proper care of hoofs. A person should seek guidance from experts on how best they can care for their animal. Some of the preventive measures include the construction of vast space to allow the horses to relax well and reduced exercise.




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