Horse with Navicular, what to do?

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enna2262

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I have a mare, now 8, who was diagnosed with navicular 2 years ago. She was treated with navilax and corrective shoeing and came sound. She then went on loan to a hacking home, they agreed to continue the corrective shoeing and let me know if there were any problems. When I contacted them recently they said she had lost a shoe which worried me so I went to look. Her feet were in an awful state, she had no shoes on and clearly hadn't seen farrier for a long time. I bought her home and she is now back in raised heel eggbars but is not sound.
I don't know what to do now, I am sure that with a small dose of bute each day she could hack about quite happily. I am not able to keep her for that, should I offer her for loan again, or for sale for a tiny price or should I consider putting her down.
What are your views / experiences?
Thanks for reading.
 
I think the most responsible thing to do would be to have her pts. It's probably also the hardest, but at least you are taking responsibility.

You could loan her out again and the same could happen. If you sell her that could be worse - who knows where she will end up?
 
I had a horse with NS eventually after all kinds of treatment the problem became unmanageable and he was PTS. Its a hard thing to do but its your responsibility to care for your horse not pass the problem on to someone else to deal with.
Just look what happened last time.
Your horse may suffer considerably more.
 
I'm sorry but I disagree. Why should an 8 year old horse be PTS just because some numpty loanee didn't take proper care of her?

If she was sound before then there is every chance she will come sound again but it may take some time to get the feet right. Even if she is not 100% then that is no justification for PTS IMO. I agree it is irresponsible to pass on an unsound horse to an uncertain future, but this is a young horse with a manageable problem and could have years of healthy life ahead of her. I for one would not make the decision to take that away from her without considering other options first.
 
I'm afraid I would say unless you know the loan home well I would also PTS. My lad has navicular and we have to manage it very carefully or it flares up badly. I couldn't in all conscience let him go somewhere else where someone might not understand his complications and through neglect or lack of knowledge cause him more pain or potential suffering.

My thoughts are with you though...

PM me if you need to talk - we've tried several navicular treatments and I understand how hard it can be.

T x
 
I don't know enough about the long term management of navicular to be able to advise you, but just wanted to say what an awful situation to be in with such a young horse.

I hope you manage to make the right decision whatever it may be.
 
Navicular syndrome is a degenerative condtion. There is no cure.
I have to agree with considering having this horse put to sleep. It really is the only fair option if you can not afford to keep this horse as a pet/field ornament.

Lou x
 
[ QUOTE ]
Navicular syndrome is a degenerative condtion. There is no cure.
I have to agree with considering having this horse put to sleep. It really is the only fair option if you can not afford to keep this horse as a pet/field ornament.

Lou x

[/ QUOTE ]

I did just write a long response(and lost it
mad.gif
), but totally agree with this, I have one who is 8 at the moment we are doing great with good shoeing, but when we get to the stage where that doesn't work then I will review again.
Unfortunately if you can't afford to keep him as a pet then PTS is the only guarantee.
frown.gif
 
Thanks for all the responses, I am going to talk to the vet to see if she is likely to come sound again now she is back in correct shoes and with more treatment and then make a decision.
I agree that if she has quality of life it is not right to PTS just because it is the easiest for me, but if she goes to another home it has to be someone who will take good care of her. I am shocked that the last people did it, every time I spoke to them they said she was sound and being ridden.
 
What a shame that the loaners did not keep up with the remedial shoeing, although I have to say this is your horse so ultimately your responsibility. You have to accept by not checking up on your horse on a regular basis you have contributed to the situation you are in now.

I cannot comment on the exact condition of your horse. What I would say is that these horses can be managed and can stay in hacking work - however it takes time effort and money.

I think it's a shame that a relatively young and healthy horse would get PTS, but in the event you are unable to keep yourself for hacking/retirement or willing to closely monitor a horse in a new loan home then I think PTS is more responsible than giving away/selling cheap
 
Have you thought about paying for the shoeing if you put her back out on loan? That way you know she is getting done and you can get a regular report from the farrier as to her progress. I know it costs but if the loaner is paying everything else then maybe you will be able to afford it.
 
Have you thought about barefoot? Do some googling, there seem to be a lot of success stories with navicular. It makes interesting reading - all to do with blood flow within the hoof and how shoes restrict it. I have not gone down this route myself but if you are desperate, might be worth a shot?
 
Are you insured? Our boy has just had Tildren treatment, IRAP and has gradual raised heel shoes with frog support. He may also have shock wave therapy at some point. He's sound right now but whenever he's not will be a field ornament if he's not in too much discomfort (he's 9). We are lucky to be able to do this. The vet bill so far comes in in excess of £3000 (insured thank God). I think if you are not insured and don't have the cash (who does?) to pay the vet bill then pts is way kinder than passing him on.
 
My horse was diagnosed with severe navicular last Saturday and I'm devastated as he's only 6.
I'm faced with a very similar decision, but can't even offer him on loan as a hack as he also has significant damage to his DDFT and there are adhesions between bone and tendon. On top of this he is recovering from a suspensory desmitis last year and is generally a bit of an accident-prone numpty :-) He's not all that lame at the moment but I realise his problems are progressive.

Lots of people have told me that the responsible thing to do would be to have him PTS, but I can't face the thought of putting a happy and otherwise healthy horse to sleep. At the same time I realise I can't keep a ridiculously expensive pet for the next 20 years, especially as I'm only 22 now and have a career, children, etc to think of in the future. It's all much easier when you have a horse that can be ridden and should you need to take a few years off horses you can put them on loan - I totally sympathise with your position, no decision you make will be straightforward or without its crisicisms. Ultimately it's what is best for you and your horse.

Sorry to not offer much practical advice but good luck :-)
 
Don't give up hope I retired my boy last year after having had navicualr for the last 17 years. He was x rayed when he was 5 had a course of navilax and with carefull shoeing we have Hunted, evented and showjumped untill last year. Good luck
 
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