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Re: [RC] Navicular Syndrome - Elana Riedel

I had a very similar experience with my Vet. When my vet was out doing my
mare's annual check up, I stated that I wanted to condition my mare for
long distance riding and would she please give my mare a lameness exam. She
tested my mare's feet with calipers and found some heal pain in the front
feet. I then lounged my mare for several minutes in each gait and each
direction. My vet stated that she had a slight head bob which is indicative
of pain and navicular. 

Last week, I went to the vet for an indepth exam with X-rays and numbness
injections. The entire exam took over 6 hours (and $1,700)! My mare was
lounged over and over with numbing injections in different parts of her
feet and legs to see how the lack of pain (feeling) affected her gaiting. I
must say that although it was difficult to see the head bob from the pain
(since it was so slight), it was very easy to see the free extended gaiting
when there was no pain. After she isolated the problem areas (based on the
numbness injections), she took 5-10 X-rays of each front foot. She has
digital equipment, so I was able to see the bone structure as it developed
on her computer. I have of course seen photos of horse bones in magazines,
but it was so much more interesting to see the bones of MY mare's feet. The
good news was that there was no internal bone damage yet (just some
inflammation), so it should be easier to correct the problem. Since there
is no internal bone damage, our working theory is that my mare is wearing
down her heel faster then she grows it (which was not a problem doing short
rides, but is a problem since I've been doing longer rides). This coupled
with the fact that she is starting to get under run heels is resulting in
her heal bulbs hitting the ground at the faster gaits. 

At this point, we've shortened her toe and put her into full round shoes.
The front of the shoe is a standard metal natural balance shoe, but the
back is rubber. Thus when she steps down, her heel area and heel bulbs are
protected. It is like us having gel insoles in our shoes. The vet says that
it should only take a few shoeings for her feet to be back to where we can
use standard shoes again. I put her out in the pasture today, and it was
wonderful to see her kicking up her heels and gaiting all over the place.
It could have simply been the nice day, but I'm hoping that it is actually
a good sign that the shoes are helping to relieve the pain.
Elana



[Original Message]
From: Sharon Levasseur <sharon1359@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 2/28/2006 1:34:18 PM
Subject: Re: [RC]   Navicular Syndrome

What EXACTLY did he say the problem was?  How did he define "Navicular
Syndrome"?  Did he say the navicular bone has begun to degenerate, or did
he
just say there is inflammation of the deep distal flexor tendon?

I'm asking because I finally found the cause for Zephyr's chronic minor
lameness
over the last year.  On our first visit the vet referred to it as
early-onset
navicular syndrome BUT when pressed at our second visit, he said really
it was
just inflammation of the deep distal flexor tendon, with only the very
slightest noticeable change in the navicular bone itself.

He said he was CERTAIN that Zephyr could return to a successful career in
Endurance.  His actual words were "I see no health reason this horse
cannot do
anything and everything you want him to do."

Immediate treatment was focused ultrasound (aka Shockwave therapy).  The
vet
also said to trim his toes even shorter (for better breakover) and put
him in
low wedge shoes in front to take the strain off that tendon.  That was a
few
months ago... maybe in August if I had to guess?  A second ultrasound
treatment
was found to be unnecessary.  Zephyr has been back in training since maybe
October, perfectly sound.  He does still have a very minor shortness of
stride
on that side, that resulted from a sore muscle in the forearm of that
same leg
(probably compensatory from his earlier discomfort).  With massage and
stretching exercises he trots evenly.  The vet said in a year or so we
can try
putting him back in flat shoes.

I'm sure others here can give more specific information and advice, but
that's
my experience with "navicular".  Hope I was of some help.

BTW, Zephyr is a 10yo half-Arab... although I doubt that coincidence has
any
bearing on this.

Good luck,
-Sharon L.



Quoting aggiekris@xxxxxxxxxxxx:

My 9 year old half-arab mare was just diagnosed with navicular syndrome,
and I was just wondering if anyone out there has dealt with this before,
and has any advice. I love this mare, and was planning on moving up to
50s
on her next month, and the vet seems optimistic that she can still be
sound and do endurance, but I just don't know.

Kris


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 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
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 Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

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Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

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