update on PSD and Navicular Pony, supplements and bringing back into work.

Kadastorm

Kadastorm

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Hey all,
4 weeks ago pony was diagnosed with bilateral psd in hind and navicular in front. so far he has had 4wks box rest with inhand walks, 2 shockwave treatments (third on the 19th) and has had wedges on front.
He is coping so well with it all which i am really shocked at, however i am feeling it as he is at a yard 35miles from my house so a 70mile round trip each day! Luckily i am not at uni until sept, but will need to find him somewhere more suitable before then.
we are due back for reassessment on the 9th August, until then i am wondering if there are any supplements i can get to help?
Also, if and when they decide i can get on to walk, how can i help keep him sane? He will, im sure, try and have a hooley about and am worried about him injuring himself...and me! Any ideas of what i can do? I know it wont be anytime soon or even ever but i guess im just hoping and wanting to be prepared!
Many thanks!
 
Ask your vet for some sedalin to take the edge off.

But I have to say... Wedges for navicular?!? What planet are your vets on? :(
 
Will try sedaline, thankyou!
Vets wanted wedges all round for foot balance issues which they thought would help both navicular and psd. However talking to farrier, he thinks fronts should do it and admittedly he is more level now with fronts taking pressure off the foot. His pedal bone was laying parallel with the sole which I think is the main reason for them.
Can I ask why your so shocked? The vet is a good vet at bell equine so is trustworthy, however I am also open to any opinions which is why I have also chosen to listen to my farrier re remedial shoeing, I trust him 100%
 
Re the wedges, 'navicular' is a disease of unhealthy hooves. The most typical symptom is a weak caudal hoof (the back of the foot - frog, digital cushion, lateral cartilages). There is no way it is physically possible for wedges to improve any of this. Generally hoof health deteriorates further in them, due to the incorrect biomechanics they encourage. They are not treating the underlying problem, and in my opinion ( and that of most good farriers I've discussed it with) wedges are outdated and ill advised in most cases.

You say your horse's pedal bones are flat... Imo the way forward is to correct this; improve his hooves so they are healthy and robust. This cannot be achieved in wedges. Simply jacking up the back of his foot cannot and will not have any long lasting benefit.

Sadly vets have little training in hoof health, and a farriers education focuses on shoeing methods, rather than the form and function of a healthy hoof.
 
My vet put my horse in wedges to try and treat navicular symptoms back in April. They lasted 8wks before I haf them taken off and looking at his feet now I think they've weakened his heel further as it seems to be growing in a very strange way.
 
Ask your vet to explain to you how wedges are going to help the horse build his heel up. The answer will be that they don't, they are a temporary
Quick fix that in the long term will do more damage.
 
Hey all, thankyou for your replies, i have taken all into consideration and will be discussing the wedges with the vet when we go for shockwave tomorrow and the farrier next week.

i have had a crap week in general this week and was in a foul mood when i left for the yard only to find that the wonky pony had broken out over night. he followed me back to the paddock and just before i could get his headcollar on, off he bronced. so i burst in to tears, shook a bucket and over he came. I checked him over numerous times during the day and could not find any heat or swelling but i worry it has messed up the past 5wks worth of rest. he is now confined permanently to the stable except for his walks instead of in the paddock which he will be stressy about but hey, you have to be cruel to be kind... :(
 
My farrier also believes wedging PSD horses doesnt help and in some cases can actually cause more strain - we have gone down the route of using Jim Blurton Sports bar shoes http://www.jimblurton.co.uk/bar-shoes/

Its all horses for courses though really - the teatment options and opinions seem to vary so much!
 
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