Among the first species domesticated by the ever enterprising human race are horses. They have been so for at least four thousand years before the common era. And now, fast forward to a couple thousand more years, theyre still very much useful and endearing to people the whole world over. They are quintessential in many operations unique to the human enterprise, from sports, work, hobbies, to simple pet owning and caring. It is therefore imperative to look out for certain diseases and conditions that impinge on the health and well being or our quintessential helpmates, such as navicular disease in horses.
The navicular bone is a canoe shaped structure located inside the middle of a horses hoof, at the back of the coffin bone and pastern bone. The related disease, which is also called caudal heel pain syndrome, involves the inflammation and degeneration of this particular bone and its surrounding tissues. Its more commonly occurring on the forelegs rather than the rear.
So far, no one has been able to pinpoint one definitive cause of this syndrome. As anyone may guess, however, there are many theories pitched in by scientists, veterinarians, and horse owners alike. Indeed, its occurrence and recurrence are more common in some breeds and circumstances than in others.
For equine lovers and fanciers, lameness is worrying in more ways than just a horse perceived usefulness, ability to work, and whatnot. As it is, this condition is quite set apart by the kind suffered by animals of other kinds and species. For others, this condition is actuated by a fractured or broken bone. Horses bones, however, are not the type to break or fracture, but those that shatter to little pieces. Therefore, youd quite agree that its not the type that one can cure with some nifty surgery.
Also, when other animals become lame, like a dog or cat for example, theyre usually perfectly able to transfer their weight on their other limbs. For humans as well, its not a problem to append a remaining leg with prosthetics or some such. These solutions, however, are not at all applicable to our equine friends in general.
The conformation of a body of a horse is such that transferring weight to other limbs is not at all viable, which anyone can pretty much picture out. Prosthetics are also out of the picture, since the horses movement is so precise and intricate that it cannot be imitated by some technology at the moment. As mentioned, bone shattering is usually more severe on these steeds than they are on others. One cant therefore blame owners for thinking that putting their animal to sleep is the best recourse to end its suffering.
A very specific instance of lameness causing disease is the navicular syndrome. In fact, this insidious ailment is responsible for the third largest contributive factor on the disability of horses. The bone of contention is a canoe shaped structure in the middle interior hoof of the horse. In fact, the appellation navicular comes from a Latin word meaning small boat, or something like that.
There are also medications such as vasodilators and anticoagulants that improve the blood flow to the hoof, and there are anti-inflammatory drugs to treat pain. Neurectomy, or denerving, is the last resort by which the palmar digital nerves are severed, and the horse therefore perpetually loses sensation in its foot. It goes without saying that the farrier, veterinarian, and owner should orchestrate their efforts so as to better the condition of the horse.
The problem must be nipped in the bud. There is a nearly one hundred percent improvement in horses that are immediately treated within months, as opposed to those who have been corrected in a year or more. One mustnt wait for the degeneration to advance, to the point that the horse is irreversibly lame. With the progression of more months or years, the horse may be nonresponsive to treatments and there is nothing that can be done about its condition.
The navicular bone is a canoe shaped structure located inside the middle of a horses hoof, at the back of the coffin bone and pastern bone. The related disease, which is also called caudal heel pain syndrome, involves the inflammation and degeneration of this particular bone and its surrounding tissues. Its more commonly occurring on the forelegs rather than the rear.
So far, no one has been able to pinpoint one definitive cause of this syndrome. As anyone may guess, however, there are many theories pitched in by scientists, veterinarians, and horse owners alike. Indeed, its occurrence and recurrence are more common in some breeds and circumstances than in others.
For equine lovers and fanciers, lameness is worrying in more ways than just a horse perceived usefulness, ability to work, and whatnot. As it is, this condition is quite set apart by the kind suffered by animals of other kinds and species. For others, this condition is actuated by a fractured or broken bone. Horses bones, however, are not the type to break or fracture, but those that shatter to little pieces. Therefore, youd quite agree that its not the type that one can cure with some nifty surgery.
Also, when other animals become lame, like a dog or cat for example, theyre usually perfectly able to transfer their weight on their other limbs. For humans as well, its not a problem to append a remaining leg with prosthetics or some such. These solutions, however, are not at all applicable to our equine friends in general.
The conformation of a body of a horse is such that transferring weight to other limbs is not at all viable, which anyone can pretty much picture out. Prosthetics are also out of the picture, since the horses movement is so precise and intricate that it cannot be imitated by some technology at the moment. As mentioned, bone shattering is usually more severe on these steeds than they are on others. One cant therefore blame owners for thinking that putting their animal to sleep is the best recourse to end its suffering.
A very specific instance of lameness causing disease is the navicular syndrome. In fact, this insidious ailment is responsible for the third largest contributive factor on the disability of horses. The bone of contention is a canoe shaped structure in the middle interior hoof of the horse. In fact, the appellation navicular comes from a Latin word meaning small boat, or something like that.
There are also medications such as vasodilators and anticoagulants that improve the blood flow to the hoof, and there are anti-inflammatory drugs to treat pain. Neurectomy, or denerving, is the last resort by which the palmar digital nerves are severed, and the horse therefore perpetually loses sensation in its foot. It goes without saying that the farrier, veterinarian, and owner should orchestrate their efforts so as to better the condition of the horse.
The problem must be nipped in the bud. There is a nearly one hundred percent improvement in horses that are immediately treated within months, as opposed to those who have been corrected in a year or more. One mustnt wait for the degeneration to advance, to the point that the horse is irreversibly lame. With the progression of more months or years, the horse may be nonresponsive to treatments and there is nothing that can be done about its condition.
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