Navicular

[SC]

I need everyone's advice on this please. I rescued a 3 Year old paint mare 2 months ago. Amazing little mare, not a care in the world.. Anyway, she was sore for about a week so I had the vets out on Monday to look at her. Long story short she was diagnosed with navicular. She was graded at a 4 out of 5. She has an extra bone coming out of her navicular bone, she also already has channeling throughout the bone..She's on bute and Recovery EQ. My question is around shoeing. I would personally like to avoid putting shoes on a 3 year old if at all possible. I would like everyone's suggestions on what you have done, what has worked, what hasn't worked etc...

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I just feel sick that this mare is only 3 I don't understand it, she hasn't done anything for most of her life. She's not being ridden or lunged or anything other then enjoying life..

[chancellor2]

I am not a farrier nor do I play one on TV nor BB's. However, I would ask that before taking advice given here that perhaps you ask if that person giving advice has any actual training (other than tv)

[BornToRide]

Very sorry about your mare - true navicular generally has contracted and long hooves in common. Correct trimming is a must. Good reads on this subject: http://www.hoofrehab.com/end_of_white_line_disease.htm#Navicular
http://www.easycareinc.com/Education/articles/hooves_in_trouble.aspx
http://www.easycareinc.com/Education/articles/breaking_traditions.aspx

[goeslikestink]

go here and get proper farrier adivce www.horseshoes.com

they are members of the worship of farriers and are the proffessionals that work with vets
in helping your horse as they offer the complete service

[Guilherme]

Start here:

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/90723.htm&word=navicular%2cdisease

Now, decide your goal: a comfortable horse or a barefoot horse. It's unlikely that the two will be one and the same.

Good luck in your decision.

G.

[BornToRide]

And above all:


"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and it is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it." ~ Buddha

[foggybok]

I need everyone's advice on this please. I rescued a 3 Year old paint mare 2 months ago. Amazing little mare, not a care in the world.. Anyway, she was sore for about a week so I had the vets out on Monday to look at her. Long story short she was diagnosed with navicular. She was graded at a 4 out of 5. She has an extra bone coming out of her navicular bone, she also already has channeling throughout the bone..She's on bute and Recovery EQ. My question is around shoeing. I would personally like to avoid putting shoes on a 3 year old if at all possible. I would like everyone's suggestions on what you have done, what has worked, what hasn't worked etc...

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I just feel sick that this mare is only 3 I don't understand it, she hasn't done anything for most of her life. She's not being ridden or lunged or anything other then enjoying life..


What do you mean "an extra bone coming out of her bone"? does she have osteophytes? or a fracture?

Grade 4 is pretty serious, and in a 3 year old horse probably the prognosis is not great for her with those changes already apparent. Was she that lame when you got her or this just came on suddenly? Navicular won't just appear like that and go to grade 4 overnight.

[LarkspurCO]

The fool who knows of his ignorance, indeed, through that very consideration becomes a wise man. But that conceited fool who considers himself learned is, in fact, called a fool.

-The Buddha

[chancellor2]

Do not argue with an idiot. They will bring you down to their level and then beat you with experience.
-author unknown

[Tom Bloomer]

What do you mean "an extra bone coming out of her bone"? does she have osteophytes? or a fracture?
Sounds like a layperson's description of navicular bone spurs - ossification of the suspensory ligaments of the navicular bone. This has already happened at age 3 . . . ??? What a shame.:cry:

[BoyleHeightsKid]

Sounds like a layperson's description of navicular bone spurs - ossification of the suspensory ligaments of the navicular bone. This has already happened at age 3 . . . ??? What a shame.:cry:

:no: Agree...this doesn't sound good especially for one so young. Your vet and farrier are going to have to work closely together to figure out what would work best for her. I wouldn't worry about trying to keep her barefoot, I would worry about keeping her comfortable. Whatever that entails...

[LD1129]

I know this is mostly about shoeing however for my guy that I had with navicular we used Arquel in stead of bute and sometimes with bute, which was amazing and kept him sound with wedge pads for quite a awhile.

Also a joint supplement could be helpful, my guy was 9 when I put him down and 8 when he was diagnosed.

[irishcas]

Can you show us the xrays? I'd like to see pix of a bone growing out of the nav bone. Although, I bet Tom B is right.

Kim Cassidy
NAF, AHA Member