Owning a horse can be a huge responsibility. An individual who plans to own one, should know how to care for it. Moreover, he or she should also be prepared for unexpected extra expenses. This can be due to illness or injury. The navicular disease is a condition of the navicular bone and soft tissues at the back part of the foot of a horse. It affects the front legs.
There are some symptoms that can be attributed to this disease. A veterinary officer is the only person fit to do proper diagnosis. Lameness may be observed. The animal may be unable to walk on one leg due to excess pain. However, if out of work for some time an improvement can be noticed. One can also notice short strides and effort to shift weight regularly.
There is no precise reason for this condition. However, some say it is due to improper shoeing practices and perhaps irregular farrier care. Unbalanced hooves can also be a factor. Horses that do work mostly involving their front legs or those that work where there are rocky surfaces, could also be at risk. This leads to limited oxygenation around the hoof.
The shoeing method is one way to treat this disease. They should be treated depending on the structure of their hooves which could vary. There are different shoe designs for particular horses. Here, it is ensured that the sides of each hoof are even. This makes walking easier. The horse will not have the toe to heel landing technique anymore. After treatment the animal will walk regularly.
The second method is the administering of drugs. It addresses the decreased blood flow aspect of this condition. The animal could also go through structured exercise within a particular time. This trains it on shifting weight to the back legs which are used to less pressure. Given time the horse may register some improvement.
When all else fails, the last option should be surgery which can be done in two ways. Ligaments around the hoof could be cut or a neurectomy can be done. In this method the nerve that conducts impulses in this region is cut. This method does not ensure you have a done deal. A regular repeat of this procedure should be done so that your horse remains in good shape.
In spite of the above procedure being advantageous, it has its downsides. First, there could be a regrowth of nerve endings leading to the pain that used to be felt. This causes the animal to become lame again. Neuromas could also develop at the end of cut nerves also causing pain. However, these after-surgery complications can be dealt with.
When taking proper care of your horse, you are more likely to note slight changes in its behavior. These may include difficulties in moving when in particular regions. You should never take some of these symptoms lightly. When you suspect a problem, find out more information from an animal expert. The good news is there is treatment for this syndrome. Do not hesitate consult an expert to guide you on what to do to curb the disease.
There are some symptoms that can be attributed to this disease. A veterinary officer is the only person fit to do proper diagnosis. Lameness may be observed. The animal may be unable to walk on one leg due to excess pain. However, if out of work for some time an improvement can be noticed. One can also notice short strides and effort to shift weight regularly.
There is no precise reason for this condition. However, some say it is due to improper shoeing practices and perhaps irregular farrier care. Unbalanced hooves can also be a factor. Horses that do work mostly involving their front legs or those that work where there are rocky surfaces, could also be at risk. This leads to limited oxygenation around the hoof.
The shoeing method is one way to treat this disease. They should be treated depending on the structure of their hooves which could vary. There are different shoe designs for particular horses. Here, it is ensured that the sides of each hoof are even. This makes walking easier. The horse will not have the toe to heel landing technique anymore. After treatment the animal will walk regularly.
The second method is the administering of drugs. It addresses the decreased blood flow aspect of this condition. The animal could also go through structured exercise within a particular time. This trains it on shifting weight to the back legs which are used to less pressure. Given time the horse may register some improvement.
When all else fails, the last option should be surgery which can be done in two ways. Ligaments around the hoof could be cut or a neurectomy can be done. In this method the nerve that conducts impulses in this region is cut. This method does not ensure you have a done deal. A regular repeat of this procedure should be done so that your horse remains in good shape.
In spite of the above procedure being advantageous, it has its downsides. First, there could be a regrowth of nerve endings leading to the pain that used to be felt. This causes the animal to become lame again. Neuromas could also develop at the end of cut nerves also causing pain. However, these after-surgery complications can be dealt with.
When taking proper care of your horse, you are more likely to note slight changes in its behavior. These may include difficulties in moving when in particular regions. You should never take some of these symptoms lightly. When you suspect a problem, find out more information from an animal expert. The good news is there is treatment for this syndrome. Do not hesitate consult an expert to guide you on what to do to curb the disease.
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