Diagnosis And Treatment Of Navicular Syndrome In Horses
by Janine Hughes
The navicular bone of a horse may degenerate, causing disease in a horse. The disease is called <A href="http://www.naviculardisease.com">navicular syndrome</A> while others call it caudal heel pain. The bone gets inflamed and degenerate, causing significant and sometimes disabling lameness of the horse. Early diagnosis and treatment, however, is important if the horse has to get better.
For an early diagnosis, a horseman should look out for certain signs and symptoms. The first sign is while walking, a sick horse will tend to rest heavily on its toe instead of the usual heel which is already inflamed and painful. The horseman should also notice if the horse takes longer to stop the stride, which is as a result of the new pressure on the toe.
Another sign to look out for is whether the pony shifts its weight from time to time while standing. If the pony is sick of caudal heel pain, it will continually shift weight in an effort to remove pressure from the heel and relieve the pain. The continuous shifting of weight causes the shoulders to grow lame and the gait to become rough. In addition, the horse will walk demonstrating lameness which gets better only after resting.
When these symptoms are observed, a veterinary doctor should be contacted. Veterinarians are equipped with the right tools for diagnosis of the caudal heel pain. Among these tools include hoof testers which apply pressure over the frog area. If the area is inflamed, the pressure from the hoof tester produces pain causing the pony to flinch.
Another tool for the diagnosis is a local anesthesia. The anesthesia works by severing nerve supply in the affected area and therefore relieving pain. If the pony has a paining heel, it will walk normally until the anesthesia wears off and the lameness comes back. If the syndrome was not responsible for the lameness, then the horse will still be lame even after the anesthesia.
Is caudal heel pain treated? Yes, and there are several options available. Since the response to any type of treatment option is unpredictable, these treatment options are categorized from conservative to more aggressive. Veterinarians prefer to start with the conservative options gradually to more aggressive measures as they note the response to treatment. Therapeutic shoeing, medication and surgery are among the options available.
To relieve pressure and consequently pain, therapeutic shoeing is used. Vasodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve pain and increase blood flow to the affected area respectively. The most common treatment option is surgery. A surgeon cuts off the nerve endings at the back of the foot so that the pony does not feel pain anymore. However, the nerves may grow back and therefore the solution remains viable for only 3 to five years.
Caudal heel pain affects most breeds of horses, although the incidence is highest in thoroughbreds and warm-bloods while Arabians are rarely affected. Despite the fact that navicular disease does not favor the outlook for horses, early diagnosis and treatment will help reduce the suffering of the horse. Also, if you are lucky and depending on the severity, the horse should continue its service.
You can visit <a href="http://www.naviculardisease.com">www.naviculardisease.com</a> for more helpful information about Diagnosis And Treatment Of Navicular Syndrome In Horses.
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New Unique Article!
Title: Diagnosis And Treatment Of Navicular Syndrome In Horses
Author: Janine Hughes
Email: nathanwebster335@live.com
Keywords: medicine, health, treatment, healthy
Word Count: 528
Category: Medicine
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