Horses that suffer from navicular syndrome are usually feared by people like a plague. This was at least true some years back. The situation, however, has improved since people now know more about this disorder compared to how they did before. People are always afraid of things that they do not understand. More understanding is now of the disease possible due to the assistance of improved imaging technology. This is what Navicular disease in horses is all about.
A decade ago, any condition that affected the heel of equines was labeled as navicular syndrome. A lot of myths and misconceptions surrounded this disease that people were justified to fear it. Today, some of the condition that were labeled as navicula can be safely classified as not navicula. It is now well understood that there are several conditions that can affect the heels of horses besides navicular.
It is possible to treat some of these diseases but others are impossible to treat. It has now been understood that certain breeds of horses are more vulnerable to navicular syndrome than others. The level of effect the syndrome causes to the animal also varies depending on the breed. Today, horses live for many years as compared to previous years. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the owner to detect the condition in the animal(s) in good time and find ways of managing it.
The navicula bone is located at a specific spot within the heel of a horse. There are several soft tissue structures that are associated with it. These structures are located in all directions, that is, lower, upper, and the sides. Some of them include collateral sesamoidean ligament, impar ligaments, coffic bone, digital flexor tendon, and navicular bursa. The navicular bone has a central marrow cavity with small channels for nerves and blood vessels the bone.
A number of various causes have been related with navicula syndrome. Some main cauces are problems in the flexor surface or flexor tendon, issues with the navicula bone and inflammation in supporting ligaments. These issues mostly happen in performance horses, that is, horses that people use for performance. The condition mainly leads to chronic lameness of the forelimbs in equines.
Although many different horses have been diagnosed with this disease, it has also been proved that certain breeds are more susceptible. These breeds include Quarter Horses, warmbloods and Thoroughbreds. These breeds are the most diagnosed. The diagnosis usually takes place between the age of 7 and 14 years.
Horses also get predisposed to the disorder due to conformation abnormalities in hooves, disproportionally small feet, sheared heels, underrun heels, contracted heels, and mismatched hoof angles. Even though both front limbs get infected, the condition usually has different levels of severity in the two limbs. The affects are usually more severe in one limb than the other.
Treatment options for navicular syndrome have continued to increase over the years. Horse owners are no longer tied to traditional treatment options. Also, diagnoses can be made more accurately, with the invention of better MRI technology. MRI scanning is the standards imaging procedure for this condition today.
A decade ago, any condition that affected the heel of equines was labeled as navicular syndrome. A lot of myths and misconceptions surrounded this disease that people were justified to fear it. Today, some of the condition that were labeled as navicula can be safely classified as not navicula. It is now well understood that there are several conditions that can affect the heels of horses besides navicular.
It is possible to treat some of these diseases but others are impossible to treat. It has now been understood that certain breeds of horses are more vulnerable to navicular syndrome than others. The level of effect the syndrome causes to the animal also varies depending on the breed. Today, horses live for many years as compared to previous years. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the owner to detect the condition in the animal(s) in good time and find ways of managing it.
The navicula bone is located at a specific spot within the heel of a horse. There are several soft tissue structures that are associated with it. These structures are located in all directions, that is, lower, upper, and the sides. Some of them include collateral sesamoidean ligament, impar ligaments, coffic bone, digital flexor tendon, and navicular bursa. The navicular bone has a central marrow cavity with small channels for nerves and blood vessels the bone.
A number of various causes have been related with navicula syndrome. Some main cauces are problems in the flexor surface or flexor tendon, issues with the navicula bone and inflammation in supporting ligaments. These issues mostly happen in performance horses, that is, horses that people use for performance. The condition mainly leads to chronic lameness of the forelimbs in equines.
Although many different horses have been diagnosed with this disease, it has also been proved that certain breeds are more susceptible. These breeds include Quarter Horses, warmbloods and Thoroughbreds. These breeds are the most diagnosed. The diagnosis usually takes place between the age of 7 and 14 years.
Horses also get predisposed to the disorder due to conformation abnormalities in hooves, disproportionally small feet, sheared heels, underrun heels, contracted heels, and mismatched hoof angles. Even though both front limbs get infected, the condition usually has different levels of severity in the two limbs. The affects are usually more severe in one limb than the other.
Treatment options for navicular syndrome have continued to increase over the years. Horse owners are no longer tied to traditional treatment options. Also, diagnoses can be made more accurately, with the invention of better MRI technology. MRI scanning is the standards imaging procedure for this condition today.
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Navicular disease in horses can be dangerous if left untreated. To know more about this disease, visit the blog posts that appear at http://www.naviculardisease.com.