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N nasogastric tube: a long tube that is capable of reaching from the nose to
the stomach used to administer medications. navicular bone: a small, flat bone within the hoof that helps, along with
the short pastern bone and the coffin bone, to make up the coffin joint. navicular disease: a degenerative disease that affects the navicular bone
(small bone in the back of the foot), navicular bursa and deep digital flexor tendon. Generally considered a disease of the front feet. Both front feet are often affected, but one will usually be more noticeable than the other. near side: left side of a horse; side on which a horse is mounted.
nerve block: injection of local anesthetic in the vicinity of a specific
nerve to deaden the region for which that nerve provides sensation and motor function. Nerve blocks are used to diagnose lameness, to allow pain-free surgery on an awake patient, to paralyze specific body parts (e.g. to paralyze a wounded eyelid so it will hold for repair) and to relax internal muscles. Depending on the local anesthetic used, effects can last from 20 minutes to eight hours. neurectomy: a surgical procedure in which the nerve supply to the
navicular area is removed. The toe and remainder of the foot have feeling. Also referred to as "posterior digital neurectomy" or "heel nerve." night blindness: an inherited vision problem that, although present at
birth, might not be noticed until later in life. Signs can include reluctance to move when it's dark, head cocking as though trying to hear what can't be seen, star gazing and a cross-eyed appearance when viewed from the front. There is no known treatment. night eyes: see chestnuts.
non-sweater: see anhydrosis.
noseband: a leather strap that goes over the bridge of a horse’s nose to
help secure the bridle. A dropped noseband, flash noseband and figure-eight (or grackle) noseband have a strap that fits under the rings of the bit to prevent the horse from resisting the action of the bit by opening its mouth. This keeps the tongue from sliding over the bit. |
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American Association of Equine Practitioners |
