Advice on Horse with Navicular

[murphy1030]

Hi Everyone! I hate to write this post but I am looking for advice. I have an 18 yr old horse who I have had since he was 3, we have shown many shows together. He is pretty much retired now a days, but about a month ago he went lame, like very lame, head bobbing at the walk. He was previously diagnosed with navicular (backed up by x-rays) about 5 yrs ago. I have managed him with Osphos and injections up until now. He just got injected and such in August and here we are still super lame... He went to the vet in September again and we did x-rays which confirmed the navicular has worsened, but the vet still thought the injections should have been helping. It was determined there is probably some soft tissue damage in the hoof. We nerve blocked the horse to confirm this. So we tried stall rest for 2 weeks with bute. There was no change. I am now faced with not many options. We can do an MRI but the outcome is the same either way he will most likely be on long term stall rest 6 months to a year. He HATES stall rest and this yields a low probability of being completely sound ever again. We could also nerve him...which I have very mixed feelings about and have done a lot of research on. My other option is to consider what we all don't want to consider and put him down. Just looking for advice since this is such a big decision, I just want him to be comfortable and make the best decision for him.

 

[TPO]

Is he shod or barefoot?

 

[ycbm]

This ^^^^^

 

[murphy1030]

Is he shod or barefoot?

We have tried both ways over the years, but he is currently barefoot and has been for over a year now.

 

[TPO]

We have tried both ways over the years, but he is currently barefoot and has been for over a year now.

Has there been recent xrays taken? If so, how was the foot balance?

Have you got pictures of the hooves (taken at ground level, on a level surface front, size and rear view then another of the underside of the hoof)?

 

[AmyMay]

An dog lame 18 year old horse with navicular, looking at long term stall rest is one I’d put down I’m afraid.

 

[TPO]

An dog lame 18 year old horse with navicular, looking at long term stall rest is one I’d put down I’m afraid.

I agree, but... if there's an obvious hoof issue, movement is key rather than box rest. Obviously there will be other factors to consider but there might be options of the horse is otherwise ok.

 

[murphy1030]

Has there been recent xrays taken? If so, how was the foot balance?

Have you got pictures of the hooves (taken at ground level, on a level surface front, size and rear view then another of the underside of the hoof)?

Yes recent x-rays of various views were just taken end of September...vet says hoof and trimming look really good for his case and he is well balanced. The vet did not recommend any modifications, she said we could try putting him back in shoes with a wedge to see what he does, but through my research and his past history in shoes I do not think this will help any, but rather make things worse.

 

[murphy1030]

An dog lame 18 year old horse with navicular, looking at long term stall rest is one I’d put down I’m afraid.

Thank you for your input, I hate how tough this decision is and want to make sure I have down everything I can for him to have a shot before making this call. Although I fear I already have.

 

[murphy1030]

Has there been recent xrays taken? If so, how was the foot balance?

Have you got pictures of the hooves (taken at ground level, on a level surface front, size and rear view then another of the underside of the hoof)?

We also did an ultrasound (understanding this a very tricky area to ultrasound) mostly to check his DDFT, there was some mineralization and VERY slight inflation on one side near the pastern, but the vet was confident that this was not contributing to his soundness issues.

 

[irishdraft]

Sorry OP but I wouldn't be considering long term box rest for your horse.

 

[irishdraft]

Sorry OP missed the de nerving bit, I wouldn't do that either, I sold a horse to someone who ended up being denerved it didn't work & the poor horse was endlessly colicing as he was on box rest x

 

[murphy1030]

Sorry OP but I wouldn't be considering long term box rest for your horse.

Thank you for the response, I do agree that I do not really think that long term stall rest is very fair or very high quality of life...I just want to make sure I have done everything I can to give him a chance. Also really appreciate the insight on your experience with nerving, that is truly my fear that there are so many cons to it. I have seen such a toss up on results for nerving. Although I also do understand that it is in no way a fix to the issue, just simply a short term band aid at best.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I think at 18 your running out of options unfortunately as sad as it is, thing is if you mri and it shows soft tissue damage it will mean box rest which doesn't help the navicular, I also made a decision with my own 19 year old horse that I won't box rest anymore it just doesn't seem fair and his poor muscles suffer.

I wouldn't go down the shoe with wedges route either its a temporary solution most of the time, as crap as it is if he can't go out comfortably what choice do you have.

Totally rubbish for you sorry.

 

[webble]

You sound like a very sensible owner and he's lucky to have you. I think at some point you have to ask who you're doing any treatment for. Sorry you're having to have these conversations

 

[murphy1030]

You should like a very sensible owner and he's lucky to have you. I think at some point you have to ask who you're doing any treatment for. Sorry you're having to have these conversations

Thank you, I appreciate it. That is one big question I have been asking myself...if I do the stall rest or the nerving or whatever it may be, am I doing it for me or am doing it for him? I feel like two of the three options are for more selfish reasons than not, I mean we would all love for our horses to be around forever but that is not always fair to them.

 

[murphy1030]

I think at 18 your running out of options unfortunately as sad as it is, thing is if you mri and it shows soft tissue damage it will mean box rest which doesn't help the navicular, I also made a decision with my own 19 year old horse that I won't box rest anymore it just doesn't seem fair and his poor muscles suffer.

I wouldn't go down the shoe with wedges route either its a temporary solution most of the time, as crap as it is if he can't go out comfortably what choice do you have.

Totally rubbish for you sorry.

Agreed, the stall rest could do more harm than good, it also takes away one of his favorite things, grazing in the field. We have also tried wedges in the past when he was first diagnosed (before do a ton of research and learning the benefits of barefoot) and it made things worse rather than better so I fear it would do the same this time around if tried again.

Thank you for sharing about your horse and I am sorry you had to make a similar decision, wouldn't wish it on anyone.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Agreed, the stall rest could do more harm than good, it also takes away one of his favorite things, grazing in the field. We have also tried wedges in the past when he was first diagnosed (before do a ton of research and learning the benefits of barefoot) and it made things worse rather than better so I fear it would do the same this time around if tried again.

Thank you for sharing about your horse and I am sorry you had to make a similar decision, wouldn't wish it on anyone.

It's so hard but maybe try some hoof boots and bute to turn out and see how he goes I know when they are like that you just want to do everything to save them.

Hey my 19 year old is still here he was diagnosed laste year with coffin joint arthritis, hock arthritis and suspensory damage behind, he also had si pain but we had it all treated but I told the vet I won't keep him in.

He fractured his pedal bone just before all this and had 12 weeks on box rest and he just lost all his muscle and was so stiff I made the decision then.

His ok now we hack lightly he enjoys it I don't push him.

It's so hard I know it so difficult to try and do the right thing please let me know how you get on though xx

 

[SusanK-USA]

No one has suggested Rockley Farm.
Have a look-see at their page.
Read the philosophy.
See the pics in the case histories.
(Blog?).
I assume it's all still there even though after many years Nic seems to have closed her rehab facility.
Not for lack of success that's for sure.
There's also a FB page Self Trimming Horses.
Also Alicia Harlov (sp?) has a page (The Humble Hoof) and a new rehab farm in the US based on the success of Rockley Farm.

 

[AmyMay]

No one has suggested Rockley Farm.
Have a look-see at their page.
Read the philosophy.
See the pics in the case histories.
(Blog?).
I assume it's all still there even though after many years Nic seems to have closed her rehab facility.
Not for lack of success that's for sure.
There's also a FB page Self Trimming Horses.
Also Alicia Harlov (sp?) has a page (The Humble Hoof) and a new rehab farm in the US based on the success of Rockley Farm.

I believe that the op is in the States. Also, Rockley doesn’t seem to be operating anymore.

 

[SusanK-USA]

The info I provided is for the OP to study and hopefully try for her horse - where her horse lives.
All of the info is very good and on the FB page mentioned above - OP can post hoof pics and get help.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Would second boots, pads and bute just to see if it made any difference. Pete Ramey's Hoof Rehab site is a mine of information about navicular cases, but as you are aware, at five years post diagnosis your horse may be at the limit of any natural changes. Any chance you could post pictures of his hooves? From the side at ground level, and also frogs and sole? Just a thought, but have he got an abscess brewing up because the internal structure of the hoof is changing?

 

[Hollylee1989]

My boy was diagnosed in 2021 with navicular, and shod all around for 17 years of owning him. My previous vet wanted to mri him and said if I didn't then just give bute everyday. I changed vets and farrier, who xrayed him and said he needed some tweaks doing to his feet. Pulled his shoes last may, and used hoof boots for him. He's retired from riding, but doing great. I'd get a pair of boots, there's pads that go in them too.