Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment Options For Navicular Disease In Horses
By Karina Frost
Navicular disease affects a lot of animals and even human beings. It is caused by inflammation or degeneration of bones or the tissues surrounding the area. Navicular disease in horses can be mild only requiring the animal to take some time off from duty to heal or it can be a major cause for disabling lameness. This article discusses, causes, symptoms, and treatments for the condition.
First, it should be understood that there is no single cause for the condition. There are many causes and some appear singly or in combination. There are also several factors that contribute to or accelerate the occurrence of the disease. Although there are many causes, the major ones are compression of navicular bone and landing with the toes first.
DDF tendons and small pastern bones are the ones that feel compression. If the compression continues for long, cartilage starts to degenerate. Degenerated cartilage flattens and loses the springy nature hence, cannot absorb shock. Cartilage may be eroded after some time. Continued erosion exposes the bones beneath opening way for infections and other conditions, which may be more severe.
Landing with the toes first has also been found to be a cause for navicular condition according to recent research. Toe-first landing results from misaligned lower joints. This places a lot of strain on deep digital flexor tendons. This kind of landing can be a cause as well as a contributing factor for bone modifications or inflammation in the surrounding tendons. Toe-first landing results from many other causes like poor shoeing, long toes, and over-trimming. The occurrence of this condition is contributed by shoeing, conformation, work, and body weight.
Besides being many, signs for navicular disease manifest differently. Painful heels is however the commonest sign. Pain is cause by inflammation of ligaments, cartilage erosion, damage of DDF tendon, damage of navicular bursa, or reduced blood flow among others. A change in gait can be an indication of painful heels. Although all front feet are normally affected, one foot feels more pain than the other.
Lameness sometimes switches between the front feet and usually progresses to severe levels after being mild and intermittent for a while. The level of lameness is determined based on a scale of 1-5. Lameness between 1-2 is considered mild that beyond that level is said to be severe. Working suffering animals on hard surfaces worsens the problems hence, should be avoided. There is change in shape of feet if the signs are not treated. The affected foot develops an upright posture and becomes narrower.
Different cases can be treated with different treatment options depending on the level of the condition. Permanent changes caused due to prolonged symptoms are normally irreversible. That is why treatment is recommended at the first sign of disease. Major treatment options available now are exercise, medication, and surgery.
Exercise involves less intensive work schedule for a given period as progress of the disease is observed. Medications include administration of vasodilators, anticoagulants, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Vasodilators cause dilation in blood vessels in feet hence improving blood flow. Surgery is normally a last resort and is only recommended in extreme conditions.
First, it should be understood that there is no single cause for the condition. There are many causes and some appear singly or in combination. There are also several factors that contribute to or accelerate the occurrence of the disease. Although there are many causes, the major ones are compression of navicular bone and landing with the toes first.
DDF tendons and small pastern bones are the ones that feel compression. If the compression continues for long, cartilage starts to degenerate. Degenerated cartilage flattens and loses the springy nature hence, cannot absorb shock. Cartilage may be eroded after some time. Continued erosion exposes the bones beneath opening way for infections and other conditions, which may be more severe.
Landing with the toes first has also been found to be a cause for navicular condition according to recent research. Toe-first landing results from misaligned lower joints. This places a lot of strain on deep digital flexor tendons. This kind of landing can be a cause as well as a contributing factor for bone modifications or inflammation in the surrounding tendons. Toe-first landing results from many other causes like poor shoeing, long toes, and over-trimming. The occurrence of this condition is contributed by shoeing, conformation, work, and body weight.
Besides being many, signs for navicular disease manifest differently. Painful heels is however the commonest sign. Pain is cause by inflammation of ligaments, cartilage erosion, damage of DDF tendon, damage of navicular bursa, or reduced blood flow among others. A change in gait can be an indication of painful heels. Although all front feet are normally affected, one foot feels more pain than the other.
Lameness sometimes switches between the front feet and usually progresses to severe levels after being mild and intermittent for a while. The level of lameness is determined based on a scale of 1-5. Lameness between 1-2 is considered mild that beyond that level is said to be severe. Working suffering animals on hard surfaces worsens the problems hence, should be avoided. There is change in shape of feet if the signs are not treated. The affected foot develops an upright posture and becomes narrower.
Different cases can be treated with different treatment options depending on the level of the condition. Permanent changes caused due to prolonged symptoms are normally irreversible. That is why treatment is recommended at the first sign of disease. Major treatment options available now are exercise, medication, and surgery.
Exercise involves less intensive work schedule for a given period as progress of the disease is observed. Medications include administration of vasodilators, anticoagulants, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Vasodilators cause dilation in blood vessels in feet hence improving blood flow. Surgery is normally a last resort and is only recommended in extreme conditions.
About the Author:
navicular disease in horses can be difficult to treat but many can return to their normal routines with treatment. To learn more about this disorder and its symptoms, review the posts here at http://www.naviculardisease.com.