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 source of the condition is not a disease entity, but rather complex pathogenesis. However, research links a biochemical and vascular component to it. Additionally, this problem is also believed to be hereditary because instances reduced after disallowing breeding certification to stallions with this condition. The condition never appears till the age of 8 to 10, making it to be characteristic in mature horses.
How well the distal limb is conformed seems to play a major role in influencing the disease process and the level of lameness. Some of the most likely causes are long toes, underrun heels, and excess pressure placed on the hoof-pastern. The result of aforementioned factors is excess pressure being imposed on the navicular bone and flexor tendon. Other conditions that are likely to result are damage of fibrocartilage and navicular bursitis.
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.
A lot of rest is advised if the condition has gotten worse because drugs may not be as efficient. Drugs and rest should be used in combination with foot care measures. Foot care measures like shoeing would help in restoring alignment and balance in the phalangeal. Two weeks is usually sufficient for determining efficiency of shoeing.
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.
The source of the condition is not a disease entity, but rather complex pathogenesis. However, research links a biochemical and vascular component to it. Additionally, this problem is also believed to be hereditary because instances reduced after disallowing breeding certification to stallions with this condition. The condition never appears till the age of 8 to 10, making it to be characteristic in mature horses.
How well the distal limb is conformed seems to play a major role in influencing the disease process and the level of lameness. Some of the most likely causes are long toes, underrun heels, and excess pressure placed on the hoof-pastern. The result of aforementioned factors is excess pressure being imposed on the navicular bone and flexor tendon. Other conditions that are likely to result are damage of fibrocartilage and navicular bursitis.
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.
A lot of rest is advised if the condition has gotten worse because drugs may not be as efficient. Drugs and rest should be used in combination with foot care measures. Foot care measures like shoeing would help in restoring alignment and balance in the phalangeal. Two weeks is usually sufficient for determining efficiency of shoeing.
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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