7/2/2023 0 Comments Horses navicularIdentifying podotrochlosis in a horse is much easier today than it was just a few years ago. Performing on hard surfaces, which further concusses the bony structures of the foot, along with making tight turns, stopping fast, moving laterally, and jumping, have all been implicated to increase the amount of impact and, there- fore, strain to the heel region, he adds. “Unsurprisingly, the horse’s occupation can have a significant impact,” Fugaro notes- literally. Achieving and maintaining optimal angles from the start spares the navicular apparatus undue stress.Īside from hoof care, other factors within our control can put excessive stress on the navicular apparatus. Our sources say excellent farriery shouldn’t be regarded solely as a treatment option but, rather, a way to prevent navicular apparatus degeneration. But in many cases, if implemented proactively, correct hoof trimming and shoeing in the first place could preclude the need for correction. Farriers and podiatrists often initiate therapeutic shoeing when managing horses affected by podotrochlosis. “Hoof care plays a large role, and there are a lot of mechanical options available to help reduce strain on the injured region to keep the horse pain-free and in work,” says Lesser. Perhaps the single factor horse owners have the greatest ability to influence is hoof care and farriery. Now let’s look at the “nurture” aspect of podotrochlosis development and what we can do about it. Affected horses can display a distinctive and characteristic “shuffling” gait, especially at the trot, and might point their feet in an attempt to reduce painful weight-bearing on their heels. As with most things, improper use leads to premature wear and tear. “In horses with such conformation, the navicular apparatus isn’t being used as designed, resulting in abnormal concussion on the bone and soft tissue structures,” Lesser explains. This combination exacerbates the strain applied to the navicular apparatus by forcing its pulley system to work harder to lift the foot off the ground. “Although not exclusive, many horses suffering from caudal heel pain (a characteristic component of podotrochlosis) have a low heel and long toe,” Fugaro observes. Tissue damage occurs as a result of concussion when the horse is in motion. Foot conformation undoubtedly has a big impact on the amount of strain the navicular apparatus endures. Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds are also overrepresented in podotrochlosis cases. “For example, Quarter Horses, with their small feet, have the highest prevalence of the condition,” he says. “The most prevalent risk factor for podotrochlosis is genetics,” says Craig Lesser, DVM, CF, an associate veterinarian and farrier specializing in lameness and podiatry at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. Furlong and Associates, both in New Jersey. ACVS, owner of Mountain Pointe Equine Veterinary Services and an equine surgeon at B.W. While the exact cause of podotrochlosis is often unknown, researchers have studied and identified a multitude of risk factors over the years, says Michael Fugaro, VMD, Dipl. Many can, at least to some extent, be manipulated. Some predispositions are inherited, others arise by way of management, conformation, and level of work. In the development of podotrochlosis, nature and nurture are both to blame. With every step the horse takes, the DDFT glides around the navicular bone, a motion which, in a healthy horse, is cushioned and lubricated by the fluid-filled sac that is the navicular bursa. They are designed to work seamlessly together. Put together, these structures create a pulley system that helps lift the foot off the ground, and also dissipate mechanical forces upon landing. A nonexhaustive list includes the navicular bursa, coffin joint, lower part of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) and its insertion on the underside of the coffin bone, and small ligaments that connect the bones inside the hoof to one another. Other vital podotrochlear structures often contribute to the problem. This shift in terminology occurred as it became clear the navicular bone is not the sole culprit in these cases. ‘Podo’ means foot, and ‘trochlear’ designates a pulleylike apparatus. Podotrochlosis refers to inflammation of the podotrochlear anatomy of the horse. RELATED CONTENT | Infographic: Inside the Navicular Apparatus
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