Information About Navicular Syndrome In Horses
Every day people see horses that move with a limp. In some cases, the limp may be a result of a simple injury, but in some, it may be an indicator of a more serious underlying problem. In the latter case, immediate intervention is needed. Navicular syndrome in horses refers to a group of related conditions or diseases that are usually very serious and disabling.
This condition only occurs in the navicular bone and structures that surround the bone. If the condition goes unnoticed for a long period of time, it is likely to cause permanent lameness in the animal. So far, it is the leading cause for lameness in horses around the world. Even with early discovery, there is no guarantee that the animal will not end up lame. That is how serious the disease can be.
The causes of navicular syndrome are many and it is sometimes hard to tell which cause is responsible in a certain case. A lot of research studies have concluded that the exact cause of the disease is not known. However, in some countries, it has been associated with heredity. As such, some countries have prohibited the use of stallions with the disorder for breeding purposes. Such countries have experienced a reduction in cases.
Some major causes of the disorder are reduced blood flow to the bone due to interference or trauma caused to the bone as a result of various actions. In the end, ligaments, bursa, and surrounding structures get damaged permanently. Permanent damage causes lameness which may be irrecoverable. Young animals are not affected by the problem. However, those at the age of five and beyond are at a higher risk and are the ones often affected.
Symptoms vary depending on the stage of the condition. During early stages, the signs may be harder to notice. The disorder is predominant in front feet, and usually causes low grade lameness. One can notice slight limping in movement. F not corrected, symptoms get worse. Symptoms are characterized by seasonality, only realizable when the animal is walked in circles or on hard ground.
In certain cases, a single foot may be affected more than the other. When this happens, the animal reveals an obvious limp in its strides. The pain is usually very much, and the horse may stand with the affected leg in front. The toes also tend to touch the ground first in an attempt to avoid placing full weight on heels. Recovery steps or treatment should be given at this stage for higher chances of full recovery.
There are many ways of diagnosing the problem. First maintaining a history of symptoms is necessary. Veterinarians may base diagnosis on the history. Existence of the problem is confirmed by radiography.
MRI scans have also been used to diagnose the problem. Both MRI and radiography reveal damages that may have occurred in the bone, ligaments, tissues, and other structures. However the interpretation of the scans and pictures taken by the diagnosis methods has always presented problems because views differ about normal-looking bone structures.
This condition only occurs in the navicular bone and structures that surround the bone. If the condition goes unnoticed for a long period of time, it is likely to cause permanent lameness in the animal. So far, it is the leading cause for lameness in horses around the world. Even with early discovery, there is no guarantee that the animal will not end up lame. That is how serious the disease can be.
The causes of navicular syndrome are many and it is sometimes hard to tell which cause is responsible in a certain case. A lot of research studies have concluded that the exact cause of the disease is not known. However, in some countries, it has been associated with heredity. As such, some countries have prohibited the use of stallions with the disorder for breeding purposes. Such countries have experienced a reduction in cases.
Some major causes of the disorder are reduced blood flow to the bone due to interference or trauma caused to the bone as a result of various actions. In the end, ligaments, bursa, and surrounding structures get damaged permanently. Permanent damage causes lameness which may be irrecoverable. Young animals are not affected by the problem. However, those at the age of five and beyond are at a higher risk and are the ones often affected.
Symptoms vary depending on the stage of the condition. During early stages, the signs may be harder to notice. The disorder is predominant in front feet, and usually causes low grade lameness. One can notice slight limping in movement. F not corrected, symptoms get worse. Symptoms are characterized by seasonality, only realizable when the animal is walked in circles or on hard ground.
In certain cases, a single foot may be affected more than the other. When this happens, the animal reveals an obvious limp in its strides. The pain is usually very much, and the horse may stand with the affected leg in front. The toes also tend to touch the ground first in an attempt to avoid placing full weight on heels. Recovery steps or treatment should be given at this stage for higher chances of full recovery.
There are many ways of diagnosing the problem. First maintaining a history of symptoms is necessary. Veterinarians may base diagnosis on the history. Existence of the problem is confirmed by radiography.
MRI scans have also been used to diagnose the problem. Both MRI and radiography reveal damages that may have occurred in the bone, ligaments, tissues, and other structures. However the interpretation of the scans and pictures taken by the diagnosis methods has always presented problems because views differ about normal-looking bone structures.
About the Author:
Welcome to our official blog where you can read more about the effects of navicular syndrome in horses. To get all the info you need, just click here http://www.naviculardisease.com.
Comments
Post a Comment