Comfrey & Navicular fracture

[onebigjump]

My Shetland has recently fractured his Navicular bone, I was wondering if anyone has had any experience of this fracture and what was the outcome?

Also I have heard that Comfrey is a good herd for helping bones to heal, however I know it can cause Liver damage in humans. Is it safe to feed horses?

 

[HappyHooves]

Hi,
We had a horse in for rehab.
The injury was fractured navicular, pedal bone and damaged her ddft.
We done the box rest, remedial shoeing, shockwave and what did really help was a equine spa.
After a period of box rest, she was allowed to be walked, it was a slow exercise program but it all did work and she has stayed sound.
I do feed another horse comfrey for bone density problem and it does help

Comfrey is called bone-knit as it is used superficially to help damage beneath. But it does contain a very nasty toxin and should really not be fed in quantity as I think it is a cumulative poison that settles in the liver. will try to find the vet link and send.

 

[HappyHooves]

This is what is said on a USA vet research site:




Notes on poisoning: common comfrey

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General poisoning notes:

Common comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is an introduced and naturalized herb found on damp roadsides and waste places in many parts of Canada. This plant contains several pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which cause veno-occlusive symptoms, liver cirrhosis, and death. Humans have been affected after ingesting herbal teas and medicines. Rats have developed hepatocellular tumors after ingesting the alkaloid symphytine, found in common comfrey. Canadian health officials have sought to ban sale of some comfrey products. Animals normally do not ingest the plant because of the bristly hairs. Topical herbal preparations are not considered toxic because the alkaloids do not reach the liver (Steuart 1987, Huxtable 1989, Ridker and McDermott 1989). Russian comfrey (Symphytum X uplandicum Nym. [synonymy: Symphytumperegrinum Ledeb.]) has been grown in Canada in Lethbridge, Alta., and Vancouver Island, as a trial forage crop for livestock, but it was not found to be suitable. This plant may be available from some nursery seed suppliers. Russian comfrey also contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids and should not be taken internally as a herb remedy

SO topical is OK but dont give it in feeds.