The navicular region refers to an area around the front feet of a horse near the hooves. Navicular disease in horses cannot be classified as a deadly ailment. It is just like a bad foot in human beings. The condition does not usually mean that a person will never walk again. The condition can be treated helping the person to feel normal again. This article explores some information about navicular ailments and how they can be treated.
In order to detect if a horse has this illness, the vet usually uses radiographic evidence and also the physical observations. A series of x-ray tests are usually done to prove that the physical signs are not caused by any other cause of lameness. This will help the veterinarian to avoid issuing the wrong medications.
There are different signs that show this ailment in horses. For example, the horse will demonstrate lameness on the anterior feet. Some undergo the lameness on all front feet with one foot being lamer than the other and for others it usually is one foot. If this takes place, stumbling will be witnessed during locomotion. The illness can be detected on horses of different ages but it is popular on horses between seven and fourteen years.
There are several tests that can be done physically on the horse to know if they suffer from this ailment. First, you can observe the behavior of the animal when landing. If it brings the front feet forward slightly so that the weight is more on the toe and not on their heel then it may have the illness. Hoof testers can be used to test the response to pain. You can also observe the size of the hooves as the sick one will be smaller because they must have been relieved from pressure for a while.
One can also identify this illness by using anesthesia. This medicine anesthetizes the foot so that the horse stops feeling any type of pain in that area. If the horse ceases the abnormal actions such as staggering then you will recognize the area with the problem.
The most basic treatment for this disease is through correct shoeing. The horse shoes used should be able to balance the hoofs front to back and also side to side. There are also some drugs that can be used to treat this problem. These drugs usually dilate the blood vessels thus helping to increase the flow of blood in the Navicular area. Many horses that use this treatment respond well to it but the duration of treatment varies.
The ailment can also be treated through some exercise routines that will help to increase the flow of blood in the affected areas. The exercise should be done at least six days a week for thirty to sixty minutes. The main need of the exercise is to train the horse to balance the amount of pressure applied on the front and hind legs.
There are however some horses that find it hard to respond to the treatments mentioned above. In this case, a surgical procedure is usually carried out to cut the suspended ligaments in the affected area. It also carries out neurectomy on the posterior digital nerve.
In order to detect if a horse has this illness, the vet usually uses radiographic evidence and also the physical observations. A series of x-ray tests are usually done to prove that the physical signs are not caused by any other cause of lameness. This will help the veterinarian to avoid issuing the wrong medications.
There are different signs that show this ailment in horses. For example, the horse will demonstrate lameness on the anterior feet. Some undergo the lameness on all front feet with one foot being lamer than the other and for others it usually is one foot. If this takes place, stumbling will be witnessed during locomotion. The illness can be detected on horses of different ages but it is popular on horses between seven and fourteen years.
There are several tests that can be done physically on the horse to know if they suffer from this ailment. First, you can observe the behavior of the animal when landing. If it brings the front feet forward slightly so that the weight is more on the toe and not on their heel then it may have the illness. Hoof testers can be used to test the response to pain. You can also observe the size of the hooves as the sick one will be smaller because they must have been relieved from pressure for a while.
One can also identify this illness by using anesthesia. This medicine anesthetizes the foot so that the horse stops feeling any type of pain in that area. If the horse ceases the abnormal actions such as staggering then you will recognize the area with the problem.
The most basic treatment for this disease is through correct shoeing. The horse shoes used should be able to balance the hoofs front to back and also side to side. There are also some drugs that can be used to treat this problem. These drugs usually dilate the blood vessels thus helping to increase the flow of blood in the Navicular area. Many horses that use this treatment respond well to it but the duration of treatment varies.
The ailment can also be treated through some exercise routines that will help to increase the flow of blood in the affected areas. The exercise should be done at least six days a week for thirty to sixty minutes. The main need of the exercise is to train the horse to balance the amount of pressure applied on the front and hind legs.
There are however some horses that find it hard to respond to the treatments mentioned above. In this case, a surgical procedure is usually carried out to cut the suspended ligaments in the affected area. It also carries out neurectomy on the posterior digital nerve.
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