Are you among the horse owners out there who are worried about the navicular disease that affect their horses? Do you know how to treat one? If you are interested to learn more about equine navicular disease, its symptoms and treatment, continue reading further.
Knowing More of Equine Navicular Disease
When we talk of navicular disease, also known as navicular syndrome, we refer to one kind of disease that affects plenty of horses worldwide. This particular diseases cases intermittent lameness and pain in horses and it worsens over time. It is sad to say that this particular disease isn’t curable but it is manageable. It affects not just the horses’ navicular bone but also the tissues surrounding it, thus causing lameness, degeneration, and pain.
The short explanation for Navicular Disease is that it affects the navicular bone and the tissues that surround it, causing pain, degeneration, and lameness.
If you have horses, you should be aware of the symptoms below to help them manage the navicular disease they have.
The Symptoms of Navicular Disease
There are different symptoms of navicular diseases that horse owners should be cognizant and should be aware of and these are further detailed below.
One of these symptoms is shortened stride. If your horse has navicular disease, then they have shortened strides, especially when they are proceeding slopes.
They are also reluctant in turning around.
Some horses manifest uncomfortable gait or stumbling.
There are also some horses that stand in such a manner that they carry more weight on their toes instead of their heels.
They show lameness in their right and left front legs. Most often, lameness affects the horse’s front legs in different degrees.
According to equine veterinarians, horses that work very hard on hard areas and those that perform routine hard work are the ones that are more likely to suffer from navicular disease.
Before veterinarians diagnoses navicular disease in horses, they will carry out various laboratory tests such as hoof tests, x-rays, nerver block tests, bone scans, and stress tests.
At present, there are several ways of managing equine navicular disease and these are corrective trimming, shortening of their toes, and correction of their pastern axis.
There are also aids used by equine veterinarians in aiding and treating navicular diseases in horses like equine bone and joint support, egg bar shoes, raise heels, support shoes, and many more. Aside from these measures, some equine vets give medications, injections, and other treatment options to affected horses. If you are among these horse owners which horses suffered from navicular disease, you are advised not to give medications and treatment without guidance of your trusted veterinarians. To ensure quality treatment, be sure to seek the expert advice and recommendations of these veterinarians. Keep in mind that only these medical practitioners know the health of your horses and the right treatment and medications appropriate for your horses. Always remember that the effectiveness of treatment depends on the accuracy and effectiveness of treatment and medications given to horses.