Re: RC: Diagnosis: Navicular

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

Oh, no, I'm agreeing with ti here!  (Eeeek!)

YES, the diagnosis of navicular disease is EXTREMELY controversial just based 
on x-rays.  What's to say that the radiographic changes in your horse's 
navicular bones are not BECAUSE of the added stress put on them by your 
horse's back and hock problems, and not the other way around?  In my 
experience, that would be the most likely progression in an Arab.  Unless 
your horse shows other very specific symptomology for navicular disease in 
addition to the x-ray findings, I would not be willing to pin the blame on 
that.  On the other hand, the fact that the horse DOES have the radiological 
changes, I DO think that shoeing to ease stress on the navicular bones is a 
good idea while you try to resolve the other problems.  Meanwhile, I would 
most definitely go back to the drawing board with the back and hock problems, 
keeping in mind that you need short enough sessions in the beginning not to 
push the back past its capabilities (or you will destroy what you are trying 
to create) and possibly even using some antiinflamatories (bute or whatever) 
on the horse during the initial phase to relieve the back pain enough that he 
CAN round and use his back the way you want him to.  Just keep in mind when 
you are working a horse on ANY antiinflamatory drug that you need to keep the 
sessions short and keep track of what you are doing so that you don't exceed 
his capabilities. You don't want to be working to the point of pain in this 
case anyway, and if he feels better because of a drug, you can't use his 
reluctance as a sign that you have gone too far.

Heidi Smith, DVM


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