Taking care of your animals in terms of health is an ideal step in order to enhance its lifespan as well as serve its purpose fully. The navicular syndrome in horses is a condition that affects feet and can be very painful to the animal. Proper care and treatment can be of help and restore the previous performance. In this article we look briefly of what the condition entails.
The signs that the horse shows to suggest that it has been affected by this disease is lameness. It may appear suddenly but in most cases it start as mild and progresses to a worse one with time. The pain at the heels can be noted by the attempts of the horse keeping pressure off the area. Difficulty in turning sharply, moving on hard or rocky ground and going downhill is experienced by the affected pony. The animal tends to become uncooperative in times of farrier visits.
The cause for this condition is almost unknown with many misconceptions pointing out to blends of factors. Ponies with pasterns that are upright, small hooves and heavy bodies are the most likely to get affected. Most of the victims are ones which have a history that involves impact on front leg and increased concussion. A much common incline points at combination of increased stress and oxygenation limitation in the heels. However, exact cause of tissue damage and soreness remain unknown.
The type of mounts that get affected or lucky is not guaranteed although the malady seems to be more inclined to stock type horses. Fairly upper incidences are more commonly identified in breeds that are warm blood and thoroughbreds while the Arabian types get hardly ever affected. Diagnosis of lameness caused by the syndrome is mostly done between the ages seven to age fourteen.
Procedures on diagnosis are in most instances based on a combination of radiographic and clinical symptoms. It is incorrect to rule out presence of navicular syndrome in the case x rays indicate changes. More accurate conclusion ought to be grounded on consistent matching signs of both the radiograph and clinic signs. The extent of the condition can be identified by lollipop looking structures.
The first steps to combat this condition include consulting with a farrier and a vet. Though no cure is available, a hasty diagnosis will allow medical, treatment farrier or surgery to kick start early during the course of the disease. Therapeutic shoeing and proper trimming can offer relief from pain to most horses. Medications that are anti-inflammatory are injected on the heel area or administered orally to relieve pain.
Feeding practices does not in any way cause the syndrome. The legs being the affected parts by the condition, a mount that is very heavy will exert a lot of pressure on its musculoskeletal frame structure. Given the relationship between this syndrome and heavy bodied, small footed mounts, it translates to a wise decision of avoiding your pony to become too fat.
The ailment is in not a terminal one and one only need to take proper care and the health of the animal will be restored to normal. It is advisable to seek immediate medication once the signs begin showing. It is also important not to load your mount heavily in rough grounds, ensuring that you dress it with horse shoes and also maintaining its fitness to a point it is proportional to the hooves.
The signs that the horse shows to suggest that it has been affected by this disease is lameness. It may appear suddenly but in most cases it start as mild and progresses to a worse one with time. The pain at the heels can be noted by the attempts of the horse keeping pressure off the area. Difficulty in turning sharply, moving on hard or rocky ground and going downhill is experienced by the affected pony. The animal tends to become uncooperative in times of farrier visits.
The cause for this condition is almost unknown with many misconceptions pointing out to blends of factors. Ponies with pasterns that are upright, small hooves and heavy bodies are the most likely to get affected. Most of the victims are ones which have a history that involves impact on front leg and increased concussion. A much common incline points at combination of increased stress and oxygenation limitation in the heels. However, exact cause of tissue damage and soreness remain unknown.
The type of mounts that get affected or lucky is not guaranteed although the malady seems to be more inclined to stock type horses. Fairly upper incidences are more commonly identified in breeds that are warm blood and thoroughbreds while the Arabian types get hardly ever affected. Diagnosis of lameness caused by the syndrome is mostly done between the ages seven to age fourteen.
Procedures on diagnosis are in most instances based on a combination of radiographic and clinical symptoms. It is incorrect to rule out presence of navicular syndrome in the case x rays indicate changes. More accurate conclusion ought to be grounded on consistent matching signs of both the radiograph and clinic signs. The extent of the condition can be identified by lollipop looking structures.
The first steps to combat this condition include consulting with a farrier and a vet. Though no cure is available, a hasty diagnosis will allow medical, treatment farrier or surgery to kick start early during the course of the disease. Therapeutic shoeing and proper trimming can offer relief from pain to most horses. Medications that are anti-inflammatory are injected on the heel area or administered orally to relieve pain.
Feeding practices does not in any way cause the syndrome. The legs being the affected parts by the condition, a mount that is very heavy will exert a lot of pressure on its musculoskeletal frame structure. Given the relationship between this syndrome and heavy bodied, small footed mounts, it translates to a wise decision of avoiding your pony to become too fat.
The ailment is in not a terminal one and one only need to take proper care and the health of the animal will be restored to normal. It is advisable to seek immediate medication once the signs begin showing. It is also important not to load your mount heavily in rough grounds, ensuring that you dress it with horse shoes and also maintaining its fitness to a point it is proportional to the hooves.
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