Sunday, April 26, 2015

Understanding What Navicular Syndrome Is

By Toni Vang


Donkeys and ponies have been found to be safe from certain diseases that cause a lot of problems in horses. Such as disease is the navicular syndrome. The disease causes disability in horses used for competitions in athletics. It causes loss of medullary architecture, formation of enthesiophyte, fibrillation and traumatic, and bone sclerosis. Even though the discovery of this illness occurred years ago, it is still a major source of disability today.

The syndrome results from complex pathogenesis rather than a particular disease entity. However, researchers link biochemical and vascular components to it. Additionally, there is a belief that the disease could be hereditary following the decrease in cases after stallions with the conditions were disallowed certification for breeding. The condition seems to be characteristic in mature horses because it does not appear until the animal is 8 to 10 years old.

Level of lameness and disease process seem to get influenced by the conformation of distal limbs. Among the major causes for the problem include long toes, excess pressure on the hoof-pastern, and underrun heels. The happening of aforementioned factors result in excess pressure on the flexor tendon and navicular bone. Damage of the navicular bursitis and the fibrocartilage are additional conditions that can occur.

The disease entails several stages, with the final ones getting much worse. Seasonal lameness can be observed during the first phases, but no head nod can be seen because of the bilateral nature of this illness. Moving the animal in circular motion worsens the situation and makes symptoms more visible. Shortened strides are also another characteristic symptom observable during the initial stages.

Age and breed of an animal are some of the factors based on when making a diagnosis. Performing a lameness examination should show a characteristic to palmar digital nerve anesthesia by the animal. Some studies only revealed 11% of positive results from hoof testers, making the test to be regarded as not sufficient in all cases. Anesthesia of navicular bursa seems to be the most effective and precise diagnosis process. However, owing to the amount of pain involved and the complexity of the injection, this process is not performed during lameness examination.

The chronic and degenerative nature of the condition makes it impossible to cure, especially if the damage done is already too much. However, it can be managed very well in some animals. Treatments that are commonly used are administration of NSAID and use of corrective shoes. Of the many NSAID available, phenylbutazone is the commonest. Phenylbutazone presents a lot of adverse effects such as GI and renal injury and should always be used with care.

The efficiency of drugs is also limited and in cases where lameness is severe, rest is the most recommended idea. Besides drugs, measures of foot care are also helpful. The hooves could be trimmed and shoed to restore the normal balance and alignment of phalangeal. The efficiency of the shoes can be determined after two weeks.

It is recommendable to seek assistance immediately the condition is discovered. Animals can be disabled by severe cases. Animals feel a lot of pain if not treated in time.




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