Treatment of Navicular

[Agent XXX999]

Any ideas for navicular management? Just wondering…..currently sound and jumping, fit and healthy….was just wondering what everyone else does. He currently has eggbars on his fronts and a scoop of biotin….

 

[samp]

You can get feed supplements for Navicular, if it is not bad I wouldn't worry to much. If gets bad Tildren is good

 

[ihatework]

Your money will be best spent getting x-rays done by your vet and then employing a very good farrier to shoe according to the xrays alongside veterinary advice. There are many variations of shoeing available, eggbars being one good option.
Combine this with controlled exercise on a good surface and fingers crossed you should have a horse that continues to lead an active life.
If he goes through a bad patch you might consider a course of navilox from your vet. There is a newish drug available called Tildren, but its expensive and obviously won't be covered on your insurance.

 

[Agent XXX999]

Thanks...any idea on the feed suppliments that would be good. I am only going to compete on all weather (softer landing for me too) but...was wondering if the ground was good and I did decide to ride on grass could studs bugger his feet up?

I will post some pics he is so absolutely gorgeous!

 

[pootler]

I'm not sure if there are any specific supplements that will help as navicular is a deterioration of the bone rather than a joint problem that can be helped by the likes of NAF superflex etc.

Might be worth a google to see if anything comes up.

 

[hussar]

I'd be a bit sceptical about supplements that claimed to help with navicular - my 16yo Arab was diagnosed with the disease at 14. He had six months of Navilox and then took part in a clinical trial of Tildren - none of which did any good at all. He's now pretty sound on soft surfaces, on a measure of No-Bute per day and shod with elevated heels.

 

[lizzie_liz]

my mare is competing with navicular and we don't bother with supplements as i am not sure they would have any effect and she is fine with out any so whats the point in my view

 

[monstermunch]

Corrrective shoeing and controlled exercise are the best forms of managing navicular. I would try not to work on hard ground too much and limit your jumping to soft ground only and possibly only once a week. this will limit the concussion on the navicular structure which can go a long way in preserving your horses happy working life.
As far as supplements go there is not really much research on it it terms of joint supplememnts for navicular specifically. Some people find it beneficial others don't. One of my friends horses had severe navicular and because he compensated the way he moved etc the navicular did give secondary problems with the joint so in this case she found a high strength joint product did help.
Your best bet is to search the web but the best thing is shoeing and controlled exercise

 

[lizzie_liz]

it depends on the navicular as my mare has normal shoes on her front feet and no shoes behind and is sound as a penny, and she was at trailblazer finals this year and came home sound as anything. so it all depends on the horse, but she is only worked hard when i am home from uni, when at uni mum rides her 3 times a week and lunges her once a week in the pessoa