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Navicular is a chronic lameness
syndrome which is very painful for the horse. Normally,
a diagnosis of "Navicular" means that the horse’s performance
and/or showing days are over. The condition centers
around the tiny navicular bone which lies behind the
coffin bone in the horse’s hoof - above the deep flexor
tendon and below the short and long pastern bones, suspended
by its own suspensory ligaments.
The debate continues as to what
causes Navicular - whether soft tissue pain causes Navicular
or vice versa. Whatever the cause, the Navicular horse
suffers from restricted blood supply travelling into
the navicular bone, deep flexor tendon tension, pressure
on the joint lining from coffin bone instability, pitted
cartilage under the bone, and the deep flexor tendon
becoming inflamed.
Navicular is extremely difficult
because a significant amount of damage can take place
before the Navicular horse ever exhibits symptoms of
the condition. There are three primary tests for Navicular:
blocking the hoof, clinical signs and x-rays.
At JustRehab for Equines, we
help horses heal. Please contact us for more details
at info@justrehab.com
and remember to include your daytime and evening phone
numbers.
If you would like more information
on the specific products or services we use in our rehab
work, please see www.HorseShopOnline.com.
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