| |
| |
|
Pets Information |
|
|
|
How To Prevent Your Horse Going Lame From The Most Common Cause Of Lameness
There are lots of ways a horse can go lame. Perhaps the most common cause of lameness is a result of Navicular Syndrome. The fortunate thing is that it can be treated where the horse gets complete, successful recovery if diagnosed and treated in it's early stages. Here's what you need to know about Navicular Syndrome. First, there is a small bone between the coffin bone and the short pastern bone called the navicular bone. This bone is important in that it distributes the horse's weight between the coffin bone and the short pastern bone. The result is that it reduces the stress on both the coffin bone and short pastern bone when the foot lands to the ground and weight is put on it. (Even though the rear feet have navicular bones, it is the fore feet that are most often affected) The navicular bone also works with a tendon called the "deep digital flexor tendon." This tendon flexes the coffin and pastern joints. It also absorbs shock when the hoof strikes the ground. When the flexor tendon moves, it slides over the cartlidge-covered navicluar bone which lowers the work load of the tendon when the foot moves. Thus, when the horse's foot lands to the ground there is a lot of force on the navicular bone. As the horse's weight is transferred over the foot, the bone is pushed against the tendon. When this happens repeatedly, then damage to the navicular bone and the tendon can occur. One thing that can happen is the cartlidge can lose its slippery surface and friction can develop between the navicular bone and the tendon. Then the tendon can become rough and make the sliding motion on the navicluar bone even worse. This ultimately leads to pain for the horse and worse, lameness. Worse, the blood flow to the navicular bone and the tendon could be decreased and it may not heal. How can you tell if your horse may have navicular syndrome? One is he may not want to change leads. He may lose his suppleness or perhaps have a stiff and jerky gait. As this gets worse the may show lameness where you may see short stride in one or both front legs. The horse will purposely try to step on his toe portion of the foot because the pain will be in the back of the foot. Thus, you will see his toe is worn more than any other part of the foot. This condition will more easily show up in hard-working horses. It also is more apparent when a horse works in tight circles. When he is moving in a straight line it is not as apparent. The lameness seems to almost disappear when the horse is at rest. It will reappear when it is working hard again. How do you treat navicular syndrome? First, begin early. The horse owner is responsible for recognizing there may be a problem. If there is a problem, then the veterinarian and the farrier should be called so treatment can begin. The treatment consists of corrective trimming and shoeing, pain relieving and inflammation decreasing drugs, and carefully controlled exercise. Interestingly, treatment for navicular syndrome may be quite different from veterinarian to the next. They will not necessarily prescribe the same treatment. Exercise is one of the most important parts of the treatment because it increases blood flow to the horse's foot. But remember that the exercise has to be carefully done. What horses are the most likely to have navicular syndrome? Hard working horses like race horses, cutting, reining, calf roping, and barrel racers. They are especially more likely to get navicular syndrome if they work on hard surfaces and have poor conformation. Navicular syndrome is most common in horses with upright pasterns. Navicluar syndrome is also common in horses when the hoof and pastern slope at different angles. As a horse owner, you should know that improper trimming and shoeing can also cause navicular syndrome. If the farrier trims a heel too low on a horse with an upright pastern it can increase the pressure where the flexor tendon and the navicular bone meet. Thus, be watchful of your horse. If you see something out of the ordinary when you ask your horse to work hard you may begin by looking for navicular syndrome since it is the most common cause of lameness in horses. As always, consult your veterinarian for diagnoses and treatments. About The Author Andy Curry is a nationally known horse trainer and author of several best selling horse training and horse care books. For information visit his website at www.horsetrainingandtips.com. He is also the leading expert on Jesse Beery's horse training methods which can be seen at www.horsetrainingandtips.com/Jesse_Beerya.htm.
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Home Hazards That Can Affect Our Pets Is your home safe for your Furr Kids? It might surprise you to know how many hazards there are in a typical home for the pets we love.Most everyone is aware that anti-freeze, pest sprays, rat poison and the like should be kept where no pet can get to them. Breeding Tetra Fish Successfully If you are keeping tetras, chances are you are breeding tetras, even if unknowingly. In the wild, tetras normally breed during the rainy season, but in the aquarium, they may breed year round. Kids and Pets, Will it Work? How can my child benefit from having a pet?1.Social skills and self-esteem. Petting a Dog is Good For Both of You Studies have shown that regularly petting a dog brings a person the following benefits: Lower blood pressure Lower cholesterol Lower risk of heart disease Improvement in chronic illnesses (such as Alzheimer's or AIDS) Improvement in emotional condition -- easing of stress, sadness, and pain. A lot of that is common knowledge. My Needs are Simple and Few! My dear owner,Thank you once again for giving me shelter. (Lick, slurp, lick, slurp) Aside from food, shelter and love, my needs are simple and few! Since I am dependent upon you to provide for me, we should discuss my basic needs. Toys are GOOD for your dog Did you know that dog toys are actually good for your dog, and not just an indulgence on the part of the owner?There are all kinds of uses for different types of toys.First, starting as puppies, toys give your dog a distraction from other would-be toys like your couch or your favorite pair of shoes. Dog House Training Dog House Training can be simpleTo start your dog house training, the first thing you'll need to do is buy your best pet friend a nice dog training collar, lead and dog crate. You should choose one made of nylon or soft leather. Separation Anxiety in Dogs What is Separation Anxiety?When you leave the house, it is nice to know that your dog goes to his favorite spot and sleeps peacefully until you return. However dogs suffering from separation anxiety are not so lucky. Westie Merchandise that Benefits your Dog There are many places to find Westie merchandise, but before you make a purchase for yourself or your Westie, consider first a retailer or non-profit organization that uses sales of Westie merchandise to benefit the breed.WestieMed, Inc. Tips & Guide To Looking For A Good Dog Trainer Dog training is definitely not rocket science and is easier than you would expect particularly if you can get help from a good dog training book or guide. It's also certainly possible for almost any dog owners to train their dogs themselves provided they put in adequate amount of effort. Breed Success in Your Puppy Search The numbers will make any pet lover blanch with disgust, anger, and sadness. The Humane Society of the United States calculates that as many as 500,000 puppies every year are sold in pet shops, and that many of these pet shops buy their pets from the worst breeders-so-called puppy mills. Charming Trends in Dog Jewelry The wearing of charms dates back to 400 or 500 BC, when they were believed to hold special powers -- particularly the power of protection. By the 1890's charms had evolved into a fashion statement and a popular keepsake. Ten Tips for Caring for Your Betta Fish Betta fish, also called Siamese fighting fish are one of the most popular types of fish found in homes across the world. Their vibrant color and active lifestyle seems to draw in fish fanatics as well as those who have never had fish before. 5 Surefire Ways to Show Your Dog You're The Boss You Must Be The Alpha DogFirst, let's take a look at what a "pack mentality" means. Dogs are born into packs - in the wild, packs are the essential social order. Dog Vomiting? Help Your Dog Now In most cases you should not be too concerned about your dog vomiting. If you know that the dog got into something or you changed its diet, you can probably wait 24 hours to see if the vomiting clears up, but only if your dog does not appear lethargic. 3 Tips For Dealing With Dog Emergencies Have you ever thought about what you need to do should your dog - or another dog - ever suffer a serious, life-threatening injury? What if they have a severe allergy to an insect bite or a bee sting? It's great to know your vet's phone number, but what if something happens during off hours? What if you don't know where the closest emergency animal clinic is located?Augh! Enough with the questions already, right? Any emergency is stressful and scary, and one involving that furry little four-legged member of your family is no exception. The toughest of owners can be instantly reduced to helpless balls of mush if something's wrong with their dogs and they can't figure out what to do. Okay Lets Do A Poodle Again My wife and I have been married for 32 years. In that time our pets, more commonly known to us as dogs, have taken a large part of that shared life together. Pets Looking for Humans, Humans Looking for Pets Attention breeders, livestock owners and pet lovers! *Pets looking for humans, humans looking for pets!* A website has been formed to show your classified for buying or your just wanting to search for a specific kind of pet. You have plenty of space for writing what is special about your pet or what it is that you are looking for in a pet. Caring for Your Dogs Teeth A dog, like a human baby, experiences the world through his mouth, by tasting and chewing on things. But, he also uses his mouth is as his hands. Thats No Paris Hilton! An Overview of Dog Obedience Training Videos Mention the word "video" and different people would come up with different ideas. Some would remember those home movies they made during special occasions spent with family and friends.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2007 |
