Horses: Facts About Navicular Syndrome

Navicular Syndrome, inflammation or degeneration of the navicular bone, is one of the most common causes of chronic lameness in horses. The navicular bone, located on the inside of the hoof, helps take the stress off of the coffin bone and also aides in blood supply to the lamina of the hoof and the coffin bone. In a horse with Navicular Syndrome, the navicular bone is damaged and sometimes has bone spurts growing on the outside of it. The damaged bone can not work properly, aggravates the tendons, lowers blood supply to the hoof, and causes pain resulting in lameness.

Usually the problem is present in both front legs and is rarely seen in the hind legs; lameness can be present in all four legs, however due to the added stress placed on the other legs. Navicular Syndrome can mimic a shoulder injury due to the irritation and strain placed on the tendons of the affected legs. It also causes swelling in the legs between the fetlock and the knee - this is also due to the strain on the tendons. Other symptoms of the disease are a stumbling gait - usually much more noticeable while going down a hill, reluctance to turn, pointing - standing at rest with one or more legs stretched out and weight balanced on the toe of the hoof, shortening of stride, and unwillingness to go forward or lengthen their stride.

Actual diagnosis of Navicular Syndrome must be done by a veterinarian. Ex-rays and other tests are used to aid in the diagnosis. It is very important that you have your horse examined by a vet prior to beginning treatment of any lameness that is suspected to be caused by this disorder. The corrective shoeing measures used for pain management in Navicular horses will worsen some conditions that also have similar symptoms.

Navicular syndrome is degenerative, and will progressively worsen; there is no known cure for this syndrome, only corrective shoeing and pain management to help lessen the lameness. The more the horse is worked, the more pronounced the lameness and pain become. The degeneration of the navicular bone will also continue to worsen with time, whether or not the horse is worked. The disease can be treated with corrective shoeing, pain medication, and eventually de-nerving the entire hoof. However, the horse will have to have more rest, less work, and eventually be retired completely. How soon the horse will become un-rideable will depend on the severity of the disorder when diagnosis and treatment are begun.