Blog
Navicular Disease
- By North Bridge Equine Associates
- •
- 18 Dec, 2024
A small bone that can be a big problem
The exact cause is unknown, but it may involve increased pressure on the navicular bone and its blood supply. It most often is a disease of a more mature horse, commonly not appearing until 8 to 10 years of age. Navicular disease may be partially hereditary. Navicular disease is more common in Warmblood horses, Quarter horses, and Thoroughbreds. Inadequate or poor shoeing, poor conformation, and trauma can also be contributing factors.
Typically, navicular disease is slow and subtle in onset. One or both forefeet can be affected or just one. It is very rare to see navicular disease in a hind foot. Lameness tends to come and go in the early stages of the disease. Stride is shortened and the horse may tend to stumble. Turning a horse in a tight circle usually produces a short-term worsening lameness. Muscle soreness in the shoulder develops after compensatory changes in posture or gait, resulting in the common complaint of "shoulder lameness".
Diagnosis is made with a complete history, careful examination, radiographs and potentially peripheral nerve blocks. Radiographs may show degenerative changes involving the navicular bone, including possible abnormal ingrowths of bone and bone reshaping. A palmar digital (heel) nerve block will readily abolish the lameness. In bilateral disease the lameness frequently then becomes apparent on the unblocked limb.
Navicular disease can be managed but not cured. Appropriate hoof trimming, shoeing and corrective shoeing can help restore normal bone alignment and balance. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as Equioxx, and bisphosphonates such as Osphos can extend serviceable soundness in some horses. Injection of corticosteroids into the coffin joint or navicular bursa may relieve pain but is not curative.
Surgical removal of part of the palmar digital nerve ("denerving") may provide relief from pain and prolong usefulness of the horse but is not curative. Surgical removal of nerves can be accompanied with severe complications and may not be recommended for every horse.
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Pasture Management for Springtime Grass
After months of barren ground or snow covered fields, we are slowly starting to see the gorgeous signs of spring in New England once again. The horses are shedding and eagerly awaiting any chance they have to nibble some delicious green grass. Below we provide very helpful guidelines for the slow controlled introduction to keep our horses safe and healthy.
Horses that always live outside have the benefit of mother nature's slow introduction to grass as it grows through the first weeks of spring. Horses living in stalls with only partial day turnout have to be more strictly controlled in their introduction to pasture to prevent the serious trouble that can occur with too much fresh grass too quickly. Over indulgence in grass can result in gas colic and laminitis. So what can you do to protect your horse from the potential hazards of too much grass too quickly?
Here are guidelines to assist you in coming up with a pasture introduction plan:
Horses on 2-12 hours a day of pasture:
If you have limited pasture but still want your horse to reap the benefits of daily turnout you probably fall into this category. Most horses in a boarding situation with access to grass will be in this group. Take care to closely follow a pre-determined time scale of introduction for these horses. We recommend the following graduated schedule:
Days 1-3: 20 min/day
Days 4-6: 1hr/day
Days 6-9: 2 hrs/day
Days 10-12: 3 hrs/day
Day 13 and beyond: unlimited in horses who are not overweight or sensitive.
You can also use a grazing muzzle (see below) if you need to introduce pasture more rapidly. With a grazing muzzle you can add 20 min per day of turnout until on full turnout. Once on full turn out keep muzzle on for about a week then alternate every other day for a week then it should be safe to remove the grazing muzzle.
