Naviscular

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Tabbi

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Please could you tell me what this is and how it affects horses? Seen a horse advertised but it has this condition so would like to know what it is. Thanks
 
Put very simply, it's a degeneration of the structures in the foot. Navicular disease is a degeneration and roughening of the navicular bone which debrides the DDFT as it passes underneath, navicular syndrome refers more widely to the soft tissues. Often accompanied by arthritis, ringbone, collateral ligament damage etc. In other words, not good news.

The situation can be managed, especially with navicular syndrome, which is often caused by poor foot balance. Barefoot podiatry has a proven success rate, other more conventional routes involve bar shoes, but getting oxygenated blood to the extremity of the foot is beneficial which is one reason taking the shoes off can help. Foot balance is paramount.

A horse advertised with navicular ought to be free, or pretty near, as you will have a lot of work ahead, probably stress and possibly heartbreak.
 
The navicular bone is a small bone in the foot. Basically the horse feels pain and goes lame. Vets used to x-ray horses and see the changes in the bone and say the horse had navicular disease. Now they call it navicular syndrome.

Changes in the navicular bone occur from horse to horse. Certain types of foot conformation causes more pressure to come to bear on the navicular bones, from the flexor tendon which presses hard against it. Continual heavy pressure on small bones cause them to harden up, or become more dense. As this occurs the blood supply to the inner part of the bone is shut off. A popular theory of cause of navicular disease is that ischemia (reduced blood supply) is produced and this causes more damage.

It cannot be cured, although it can be treated.

Don't buy the horse. It is not worth the hassle.
 
Run away very very quickly. I bought a mare with navicular (unknown to me) and after a long struggle of a few highs and many many lows she was PTS.
I agree with ISHY 100000000000000000%
 
Avoid. We just had my sisters horse PTS recently as he had it. It was heartbreaking to see him in pain. Horrible condition.
 
agree - a lot of people spend a lot of money, time and heartache on treatments etc that usually only help the horse a little, and although some horses do respond well to correcetive shoeing, barefoot the damage has usually been done and is not curable or reversible. Ultimately the horse will need to live on pain killers. Am facing this difficult decision with my lad - field rest for the last 6 months and we have done everything to try and rebalance feet but not looking good.... :-(
 
would not have a horse with this even if it was given to me with a years supply of feed and bedding. Because it would never be sound enough to do what I wanted and then what would I do with it. I can't keep giving all my lame horses to friends!! They are running out of space lol
 
Thanks everybody. Will stay well clear! Sorry for the mis spelliing of the condition in my heading! I was at work, on my phone trying to post this topic from memory!

Thanks again.
 
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