Friday, May 1, 2015

Understanding What Navicular Syndrome Is

By Toni Vang


Donkeys and ponies have been found to be safe from certain diseases that cause a lot of problems in horses. Such as disease is the navicular syndrome. The disease causes disability in horses used for competitions in athletics. It causes loss of medullary architecture, formation of enthesiophyte, fibrillation and traumatic, and bone sclerosis. Even though the discovery of this illness occurred years ago, it is still a major source of disability today.

The condition never results from a disease entity rather from complex pathogenesis. However, biochemical and vascular components have been linked to it by researcher in that field of study. Additionally, heredity has been added to causes because after disallowing affected stallions from breeding, cases seemed to degrease in number. The appearance of the disease in horses that are 8 to 10 years in age makes it characteristic in mature horses.

Level of lameness and disease process seem to get influenced by the conformation of distal limbs. Among the major causes for the problem include long toes, excess pressure on the hoof-pastern, and underrun heels. The happening of aforementioned factors result in excess pressure on the flexor tendon and navicular bone. Damage of the navicular bursitis and the fibrocartilage are additional conditions that can occur.

The disease entails several stages, with the final ones getting much worse. Seasonal lameness can be observed during the first phases, but no head nod can be seen because of the bilateral nature of this illness. Moving the animal in circular motion worsens the situation and makes symptoms more visible. Shortened strides are also another characteristic symptom observable during the initial stages.

Diagnosis is based on various factors including breed and age of an animal. Lameness examination reveals a characteristic response from the animal to palmar digital nerve anesthesia. Hoof testers never give positive results as seen in only 11% positives in some studies. The most effective and specific diagnostic procedure is the anesthesia of navicular bursa. However the process is painful and the administering the injection is a complex process.

In cases where the condition has gotten worse, achieving total cure is not possible because the disease is chronic and degenerative in nature. However, the problem can be managed quite well in some cases. Administration of NSAID and utilization of corrective shoes are some of the commonest treatment options used. Phenylbutazone is more commonly used over other NSAIDs. However, GI and renal injury are some of side effects of phenylbutazone, and should be used cautiously.

A lot of rest is advised if the condition has gotten worse because drugs may not be as efficient. Drugs and rest should be used in combination with foot care measures. Foot care measures like shoeing would help in restoring alignment and balance in the phalangeal. Two weeks is usually sufficient for determining efficiency of shoeing.

Seeking medical assistance the minute the problem is discovered is advisable. Total disability could result if one delays. Animals that are not treated on time undergo a lot of pain.




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