samwv
New User
My horse has a bilateral lameness (2/10) as has some slight navicular changes- we are addressing the shoeing to aid with this but does anyone have any experience using any supplements that at BE friendly to help?
TIA
TIA
Navicular changes
- Thread starter samwv
- Start date
PoppyAnderson
Well-Known Member
The only way to address navicular is to go barefoot. Shoeing and remedial shoeing will not work. Have you searched on here for the many other posts about this exact same subject?
ycbm
Overwhelmed
The navicular changes are not a diagnosis. The changes to the bone are only very rarely the cause of lameness. The important thing is whether your horse has a toe first or a 'one side of the foot first' landing. Those things cause soft tissue injury and/or joint inflammation which is the cause of the lameness. And if they aren't corrected, the lameness can't be cured.
Look at rockleyfarm.blogspot.com
PS is anyone else sick to the back teeth of vets continuing to give a diagnosis of lameness due to deterioration of the navicular bone? It's been known for at least twenty years now that it isn't the case unless it's falling apart.
Look at rockleyfarm.blogspot.com
PS is anyone else sick to the back teeth of vets continuing to give a diagnosis of lameness due to deterioration of the navicular bone? It's been known for at least twenty years now that it isn't the case unless it's falling apart.
be positive
Well-Known Member
I guess it is because the changes can be seen on xray whereas to "prove" soft tissue injuries would need an MRI which if they are not insured or the owner is not experienced enough to question the vet will not be done so they go along with "diagnosing" navicular as the most straightforward option.
It is only when the horse doesn't respond, by which time the damage may be worse or time run out for insurance, that many will be told there could be soft tissue injuries along with the bony changes.
I think things are better than they used to be, I remember years ago when very young horses were routinely being shot because of navicular as it was considered to be untreatable, but it is surprising how many vets fail to give more information to the owners and continue to just look at what they can see not at the cause which is nearly always poor foot balance causing soft tissue strain.
Hopefully anyone who does get a navicular diagnosis will google and find out more then go back and question the vets, in time it should make a difference.
PoppyAnderson
Well-Known Member
Yes, absolutely sick of it.
PoppyAnderson
Well-Known Member
People are still weirdly resistant to it though. You see it on here all the time and IRL. Box rest and remedial shoeing are still the most commonly advised 'treatment'.
PoppyAnderson
Well-Known Member
tallyho!
Following a strict mediterranean diet...
Yup. Sick of vets who seem to dish out tripe to unexperienced owners just because they have a trained inability to say "I don't know... lets ask someone who does".