Symptoms And Treatment Of The Navicular Disease In Horses

By Ronald Stewart


Ponies also get sick and can die if the illness is not treated. There is a degenerative condition that affects them that is called the navicular disease in horses. This progressive degenerative condition affects the navicular bone which is found behind the coffin bone in the hoof of the horse. This condition can also affect both front feet, the bursa, and the deep digital flexor. This is not actually a disease. It is more of a syndrome that shows there are some abnormalities. It can be diagnosed and treated. Thus the pony can go back to its normal healthy state.

Some pony owners do not detect the conditions until it gets worse. It is thus advisable to be very keen even on the slightest changes in the walking and posture of the animal. When you detect that your steed may be suffering from this condition, call a veterinary doctor as soon as you can. This illness may affect both feet, but one hoof may be more affected than the other.

This condition can get worse when the pony is overworked. However, when it is resting, the symptoms can reduce a bit. Thus, if you are not keen, you may not notice that your steed is actually sick. Hence, if you suspect that your steed may be suffering from the condition, contact your vet immediately. The vet will carry out a series of tests and MRI scans to check whether the pony has the suspected condition.

If you do not have a personal vet, however, it can be frustrating to look for a new one. This is because your steed is sick and you have to find a competent vet as soon as you can. In such cases, the best place to look for a vet is the web. This will give you a few names to look in to.

Finding references is also a solution that works very well. If some of your friends have ponies, you can source for referrals from them. This can be so helpful as it will even save your time and money. However, you have to make your own choice because you must ensure that the veterinary doctor is qualified.

When you find a professional, do not hire him/her until you are sure that they are qualified to treat animals. It can be very wrong for a vet to lie yet they are not qualified. The best way is to request these professionals to present you with their certifications and other supporting documents.

Treating this condition tends to be varied though. Your vet should be able to explain to you that the condition is chronic, meaning that your pony may not recover fully. Thus, the professional must guide you on the best ways to manage the condition because curing it may not be possible.

Some of the best treatment methods that can manage the condition include the use of therapeutic shoes. Your veterinary doctor should thus explain how the show works. Also, the professional should hand you some drugs that can help reduce the inflammation and guide you on the dosage. Additionally, you should not strain your pony.




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