Navicular syndrome is a disease of the navicular bone that affects the equine family especially horses. The condition is caused by degeneration and inflammation of the bone and supporting tissues. Failure to take fast and effective measures to treat navicular disease can cause serious or disabling lameness. Equine forelimb anatomy needs to be understood first for one to understand this problem well.
The problem has several observable signs. One of the commonest signs is hurting heels. Lameness begins intermittently and mildly becoming and develops to severe levels over time. Factors like erosion of cartilage, inflammation in supportive ligaments, damaged bones and tendons, reduced blood flow, and pressure built up in hooves are the causes for lameness.
One can notice if the animal is feeling pain by observing the walking posture. Some display a tiptoe gait because of hurting heels and stumble more frequently. Both front feet normally get affected with one being worse than the other. Lameness sometimes switches feet without any observable pattern. The situation is worsened if the horse walks in circles or hard surfaces. After months of pain, the foot experiencing most pain starts to change shape.
There are many causes and contributing factors for this condition in equines. The first cause is compression of navicular bone under the DDF tendon. It takes several months of repeated compression in this region for cartilage degeneration to occur. Cartilage degeneration causes it to flatten and become less springy hence losing its ability to absorb shock. Cartilage erosion may also occur in some cases. Some researchers have found a connection between this condition and osteoarthritis, therefore similar therapeutic regimes may be suggested.
Tension on supportive ligaments for the navicular bones also causes the problem. Too much tension causes the impar ligament to be stressed and get inflamed according to some experts. There is a reduction in blood flowing to and from the bones due to the strain and inflammation. There is less obstruction to blood going to the feet than that coming out because veins are more compressed than arteries. The obstruction causes blood pressure to build up. If tension is very high, ligaments may tear up and exostoses caused.
Toe-first landing is the third cause. Misaligned lower joints are the major cause of this kind of landing. This landing style places strain on deep digital flexor tendons and bones causing bone modification in the end. Long toes, poor shoeing, and over-trimming frog and heels may also cause toe-first landing.
Major factors that contribute to the syndrome are shoeing, work, body weight, and conformation. Conformational defects especially those which promote concussion are the major contributing factors. Conformational defects include low heels with long toes, significant downhill build, small feet, upright pasterns, and narrow and upright feet. These defects contribute by causing constant stress on tendons, ligaments, and bones in feet. The syndrome may also develop due to galloping, jumping, and working on steep terrains.
This condition has various options for treatment. Among them are trimming, medication, surgery, hoof care, and exercise. One should know that some cases take more than one method to treat the disease. Treatment may depend on the severity of the problem.
The problem has several observable signs. One of the commonest signs is hurting heels. Lameness begins intermittently and mildly becoming and develops to severe levels over time. Factors like erosion of cartilage, inflammation in supportive ligaments, damaged bones and tendons, reduced blood flow, and pressure built up in hooves are the causes for lameness.
One can notice if the animal is feeling pain by observing the walking posture. Some display a tiptoe gait because of hurting heels and stumble more frequently. Both front feet normally get affected with one being worse than the other. Lameness sometimes switches feet without any observable pattern. The situation is worsened if the horse walks in circles or hard surfaces. After months of pain, the foot experiencing most pain starts to change shape.
There are many causes and contributing factors for this condition in equines. The first cause is compression of navicular bone under the DDF tendon. It takes several months of repeated compression in this region for cartilage degeneration to occur. Cartilage degeneration causes it to flatten and become less springy hence losing its ability to absorb shock. Cartilage erosion may also occur in some cases. Some researchers have found a connection between this condition and osteoarthritis, therefore similar therapeutic regimes may be suggested.
Tension on supportive ligaments for the navicular bones also causes the problem. Too much tension causes the impar ligament to be stressed and get inflamed according to some experts. There is a reduction in blood flowing to and from the bones due to the strain and inflammation. There is less obstruction to blood going to the feet than that coming out because veins are more compressed than arteries. The obstruction causes blood pressure to build up. If tension is very high, ligaments may tear up and exostoses caused.
Toe-first landing is the third cause. Misaligned lower joints are the major cause of this kind of landing. This landing style places strain on deep digital flexor tendons and bones causing bone modification in the end. Long toes, poor shoeing, and over-trimming frog and heels may also cause toe-first landing.
Major factors that contribute to the syndrome are shoeing, work, body weight, and conformation. Conformational defects especially those which promote concussion are the major contributing factors. Conformational defects include low heels with long toes, significant downhill build, small feet, upright pasterns, and narrow and upright feet. These defects contribute by causing constant stress on tendons, ligaments, and bones in feet. The syndrome may also develop due to galloping, jumping, and working on steep terrains.
This condition has various options for treatment. Among them are trimming, medication, surgery, hoof care, and exercise. One should know that some cases take more than one method to treat the disease. Treatment may depend on the severity of the problem.
