Navicular syndrome or disease is a problem affecting navicular bones of horses and other members of the equine family. The condition is caused when the bone and surrounding tissues degenerate or get inflamed. If navicular disease is not treated fast and effectively when the first signs occur, serious disabling lameness can be caused. One must first understand the equine forelimb anatomy to have a better grasp of this problem.
The problem is revealed through many signs. Paining heels is one of the most common signs. Lameness progresses to severe levels after starting mildly and intermittently. Lameness is caused by several factors such as erosion of cartilage, reduced blood flow, increased pressure in hooves, inflammation of supportive ligaments, and damaged bones and tendons.
Pain can be noticed because the affected animal displays a tiptoe gait due to paining heels. They also show frequent stumbling. Normally both front feet are affected although in most cases, one foot is normally more affected. Lameness may also switch from one foot to the other without any form of consistency. Walking the horse on hard surfaces or in circles worsens the situation. There is a change in the shape of the foot experiencing most pain after months of suffering.
There are many causes and contributing factors for this condition in equines. The first cause is compression of navicular bone under the DDF tendon. It takes several months of repeated compression in this region for cartilage degeneration to occur. Cartilage degeneration causes it to flatten and become less springy hence losing its ability to absorb shock. Cartilage erosion may also occur in some cases. Some researchers have found a connection between this condition and osteoarthritis, therefore similar therapeutic regimes may be suggested.
Tension on ligaments that support the navicular bone is also a cause. Some professionals believe that inflammation and stress is caused in the impar ligament because of too much tension. The strain and inflammation causes blood flow from and to the bone to decrease. Blood flowing to the bone is less obstructed than that leaving because arteries are less compressed than veins. As a result there is a built up of blood pressure. Ligaments are torn and exostoses caused if tension is too great.
The third most common cause is toe-first landing. Toe-first landing results from misaligned lower joints in most cases. Bones and deep digital flexor tendons are strained with this landing causing bones to be modified. Poor shoeing, over-trimming of heels or frog, and long toes also lead to toe-first landing.
Major contributing factors are conformation, shoeing, work, and body weight. Conformational defects are major contributing factors especially those that promote concussion. Such defects include narrow and upright feet, long toes with low heels, small feet, significant downhill build, and upright pasterns. All these defects contribute to constant stress on the bones, tendons, and ligaments in feet. Jumping, galloping, and working on steep terrain is also a major contributing factor to development of the syndrome.
This condition has various options for treatment. Among them are trimming, medication, surgery, hoof care, and exercise. One should know that some cases take more than one method to treat the disease. Treatment may depend on the severity of the problem.
The problem is revealed through many signs. Paining heels is one of the most common signs. Lameness progresses to severe levels after starting mildly and intermittently. Lameness is caused by several factors such as erosion of cartilage, reduced blood flow, increased pressure in hooves, inflammation of supportive ligaments, and damaged bones and tendons.
Pain can be noticed because the affected animal displays a tiptoe gait due to paining heels. They also show frequent stumbling. Normally both front feet are affected although in most cases, one foot is normally more affected. Lameness may also switch from one foot to the other without any form of consistency. Walking the horse on hard surfaces or in circles worsens the situation. There is a change in the shape of the foot experiencing most pain after months of suffering.
There are many causes and contributing factors for this condition in equines. The first cause is compression of navicular bone under the DDF tendon. It takes several months of repeated compression in this region for cartilage degeneration to occur. Cartilage degeneration causes it to flatten and become less springy hence losing its ability to absorb shock. Cartilage erosion may also occur in some cases. Some researchers have found a connection between this condition and osteoarthritis, therefore similar therapeutic regimes may be suggested.
Tension on ligaments that support the navicular bone is also a cause. Some professionals believe that inflammation and stress is caused in the impar ligament because of too much tension. The strain and inflammation causes blood flow from and to the bone to decrease. Blood flowing to the bone is less obstructed than that leaving because arteries are less compressed than veins. As a result there is a built up of blood pressure. Ligaments are torn and exostoses caused if tension is too great.
The third most common cause is toe-first landing. Toe-first landing results from misaligned lower joints in most cases. Bones and deep digital flexor tendons are strained with this landing causing bones to be modified. Poor shoeing, over-trimming of heels or frog, and long toes also lead to toe-first landing.
Major contributing factors are conformation, shoeing, work, and body weight. Conformational defects are major contributing factors especially those that promote concussion. Such defects include narrow and upright feet, long toes with low heels, small feet, significant downhill build, and upright pasterns. All these defects contribute to constant stress on the bones, tendons, and ligaments in feet. Jumping, galloping, and working on steep terrain is also a major contributing factor to development of the syndrome.
This condition has various options for treatment. Among them are trimming, medication, surgery, hoof care, and exercise. One should know that some cases take more than one method to treat the disease. Treatment may depend on the severity of the problem.
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