Horses sometimes get problems with their navicular bone and surrounding tissues. The bone is located on the front of the foot. This is usually behind coffin bone and just below the pastern bone. There are strong tendons that run across this area all the way to the back of coffin bone across the soft tissue. There is some cartilage between navicular bone and the coffin bone. Furthermore there is a small sac just over navicular bone that prevents the bone from abrasion. Navicular bone and surrounding tissues at times get inflamed or degenerates causing disabling and lameness to the horse. Navicular disease in horses should therefore be given attention.
There is no single factor that is wholly responsible for the syndrome. Animal health expert have put forward theories to explain possible causes. The first theory asserts that the syndrome could be caused by compression of navicular bone by tendons and pastern bone on the rear. It is also believed to cause cartilage degeneration. Degeneration causes flattening of cartilage making it less springy and unable to handle heavy shock.
Study has also found increased cartilage erosion along services adjacent to navicular bone in horses where compression is suspected. This is usually caused by biochemical changes similar to a human condition called osteoarthritis. If the erosion progresses, the underneath bone is exposed is unearthed and thus not protected. The tendons tend to rub more viciously on the bone surface resulting to inflammation. Compression is also responsible for increase in density of this bone making it brittle and susceptible to breakage even in little shocks.
Research has also indicated that tension on the ligaments that support the bone could lead to degeneration. Excess tension causes strain and inflammation that decreases blood flow to and fro the navicular bone. Most of these blood vessels run along this region. Persistent tension causes the ligament to permanently thicken and reduce blood flow.
If blood is restricted from one side of this bone, there is usually fluid buildup in this bone. The bone responds to pressure and reduced blood supply by absorbing mineral found at its center. Extreme tension also causes exostoses, a condition in which ligaments that are attached to the navicular bone force the bone to assume a canoe shape due to pressure. They may tear in some cases.
The treatment suggested by the vet is largely dependent on extent that the navicular region has been damaged. There are a range of interventions from conservative ones to aggressive ones. These include surgery, shoeing the hoof, trimming, and various medications, oral and intravenous.
Shoeing treatment involves placing a bar across the heels to relieve pressure on these heels. It also improves blood flow. The veterinary can also rasp the quarters of wall of the hoof or cut grooves to relieve contraction. Trimming the foot also aids in balancing the foot. Most horses with the syndrome have long toes, very little inner wall depth and under run heels. Trimming improves the hoof form and structure.
The quarters of the hoof wall may be rasped and the hoof trimmed. This creates a balanced hoof as most horses develop long toes and little inner wall depth. Medication involves use of vasodilators to open veins and also to relieve pain. Nerves are severed in surgery but make the horse lose sensation at the back of a foot.
There is no single factor that is wholly responsible for the syndrome. Animal health expert have put forward theories to explain possible causes. The first theory asserts that the syndrome could be caused by compression of navicular bone by tendons and pastern bone on the rear. It is also believed to cause cartilage degeneration. Degeneration causes flattening of cartilage making it less springy and unable to handle heavy shock.
Study has also found increased cartilage erosion along services adjacent to navicular bone in horses where compression is suspected. This is usually caused by biochemical changes similar to a human condition called osteoarthritis. If the erosion progresses, the underneath bone is exposed is unearthed and thus not protected. The tendons tend to rub more viciously on the bone surface resulting to inflammation. Compression is also responsible for increase in density of this bone making it brittle and susceptible to breakage even in little shocks.
Research has also indicated that tension on the ligaments that support the bone could lead to degeneration. Excess tension causes strain and inflammation that decreases blood flow to and fro the navicular bone. Most of these blood vessels run along this region. Persistent tension causes the ligament to permanently thicken and reduce blood flow.
If blood is restricted from one side of this bone, there is usually fluid buildup in this bone. The bone responds to pressure and reduced blood supply by absorbing mineral found at its center. Extreme tension also causes exostoses, a condition in which ligaments that are attached to the navicular bone force the bone to assume a canoe shape due to pressure. They may tear in some cases.
The treatment suggested by the vet is largely dependent on extent that the navicular region has been damaged. There are a range of interventions from conservative ones to aggressive ones. These include surgery, shoeing the hoof, trimming, and various medications, oral and intravenous.
Shoeing treatment involves placing a bar across the heels to relieve pressure on these heels. It also improves blood flow. The veterinary can also rasp the quarters of wall of the hoof or cut grooves to relieve contraction. Trimming the foot also aids in balancing the foot. Most horses with the syndrome have long toes, very little inner wall depth and under run heels. Trimming improves the hoof form and structure.
The quarters of the hoof wall may be rasped and the hoof trimmed. This creates a balanced hoof as most horses develop long toes and little inner wall depth. Medication involves use of vasodilators to open veins and also to relieve pain. Nerves are severed in surgery but make the horse lose sensation at the back of a foot.
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