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 Veteran
Posts: 226
 
Location: Middle Tennessee | Took my 8 year old gelding to Tennessee Equine Hospital yesterday and he was diagnosed with navicular. She said we didn't catch it very early because his navicular bone is pretty ugly, but since it isn't bothering him very badly and he isn't showing other signs such as pointing, shortened stride, etc, that I can still compete on him with maintenance. We injected the coffin joint and she said best case scenario we can do that for 4-5 years at about every 6 months if it continues to help him. After that, we can inject the bursa. Then we can look in to nerving if he is a good candidate after an MRI. My question is what supplements do you suggest. Equibine, OCD pellets, etc??? Do they work? We will also do a pour in pad and wedge shoes. He loves his job and is far too young and good at what he does to turn out! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
 
| I'm sorry  |
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  That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| One of the best things I will recomend is to shorten the breakover point of the hoof by squaring off the toe. I would also get a second opinion, many vets interpret symptoms and even x-rays differently. Third thing- your horse still has plenty of life in him. I had a horse nerved and used him for six years until he was sold, and he was still perfectly happy. If you are looking at nerving in the future you still have 10+ years of use, if that is even the problem. |
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 Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | I feel your pain my 7yr old was diagnosed with bone spurs on her navicular bone at 5yrs old. I tried to tell the vet that is what I felt in my gut but she didn't think that was it so we wasted 6 months (and lots of money) before getting her diagnosed. :( Very frustrating. It made me sick to my stomach to see my beautiful young mare given such a devasting diagnosis. I gave her most of her 6yr old year off because I was having a hard time dealing with it and just almost wanted to avoid it. Well this year I am back on her and determined to let my beauty show what she can do and I will continue to research options. I want to give Equi-Bone a try but it is so expensive for the 5 month loading dose. After the loading does it really isn't much more than most supplements when you break the cost down monthly. The initial upfront cost is more so that is what makes it so difficult.
Edited by Just Bring It 2014-04-22 10:30 AM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | Honestly I wouldn't stress too much about it. It's not an ideal situation but it's certainly not the "death sentence" it used to be. So many changes in equine medicine and diagnostics in the last few years means that owners can keep navicular horses sound, happy, healthy and productive for many years. The advancements that have been made are tremendous and I can only imagine what another 8 -10 years will bring in terms of keeping our horses healthy.
I would put him on a good supplement and follow the medical advice of the vet and enjoy him.
(Sorry I don't have supplement advice... the US has so many more cool supplements then we can get in Canada) |
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | Whiteboy - 2014-04-22 10:23 AM One of the best things I will recomend is to shorten the breakover point of the hoof by squaring off the toe. I would also get a second opinion, many vets interpret symptoms and even x-rays differently. Third thing- your horse still has plenty of life in him. I had a horse nerved and used him for six years until he was sold, and he was still perfectly happy. If you are looking at nerving in the future you still have 10+ years of use, if that is even the problem.
This is so important, all the heel support in the world does no good at all if the breakover is too far forward. I love the PLR shoes for getting the breakover point back. |
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 Vodka for Lunch
Location: Lala Land | Sooo sorry!! My then 6 yr old was diagnosed w/ mild/moderate navicular. We injected bursa & coffin, backed up the toe and he's riding like a dream! I did start him on Equibone in Nov., hadnt had him re-xrayed to see if there have been changes yet. I bought BOT bell boots for him and we put him on Isoxoprine. My vet said that the Isoxoprine is kind of an out-dated treatment for navicular, but it certainly won't hurt him. |
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 Tough Patooty
Posts: 2615
Location: Sperry, OK | check into Tildren!!! you may be surprised what it can do for you in this situation. |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-04-22 11:46 AM check into Tildren!!! you may be surprised what it can do for you in this situation.
Yep... speak to your vet about Tildren. |
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Member
Posts: 41
| You may also try soft ride boots. I use mine in the trailer, and when stalled on concrete. They will not cure it but may give some comfort and relief. |
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Veteran
Posts: 185
| I would pull his shoes and get a good barefoot trimmer. Not only is it much easier to make small changes or maintain/adjust breakover (you could just run a rasp over when ever you wanted) but I really think all these problems are created or at least worsened by humans/shoes. And this is coming from a classically trained english rider. I run barrels on my barefoot horse fine if not better without shoes.
You should totally watch these videos of a navicular mare turned barefoot! I was like you and thought it was a death sentance or at least end of working life. My friend put her navicular gelding down a few years ago - tried everything, corrective shoes, magnetic boots, injections and where going to nerve him but he wasn't a good candidate - I wonder if barefoot would have saved him and others.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXbfl5XLH_A (before)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hKkVlgFJfM (six weeks late)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK-lh65TvHw (this video is seven months later)
there are more videos of her too |
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 Hummer's Hero
Posts: 3071
Location: Smack Dab in the Middle | Unless used very early, Tildren is proving rather ineffective. But, when used early, it can have some promising results.
Nerving is not the "end of all" that most think it is--think of it as a pain management option, but certainly not the first one...or even the second, but don't rule it out.
Square toed rocker type shoes, Natural Balance for example, set back. Wedges if needed to open the coffin joint. Your farrier can make or break a navicular horse--so find a very good one, and take an x-ray to verify your horse's foot is balanced before and after shoes. Inject where/when needed--especially if you choose to nerve, as that can mask the need for those, so you have to be EXTREMELY proactive.
Supplement for strong feet, increased circulation and accelerated removal of inflammation. Look into and try a lot of non-medical therapies routines to supplement your medical efforts. Chiropractic and magnetic therapies have made the difference in mine.
Edited by RockinGR 2014-04-22 11:27 AM
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| Murphy - 2014-04-22 10:56 AM
ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-04-22 11:46 AM check into Tildren!!! you may be surprised what it can do for you in this situation.
Yep... speak to your vet about Tildren.
Another vote for Tildren. It seems to be the most powerful treatment, that works for the most horses. Equibone is good too. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| So sorry! I know a few navicular horses who are still competing at the top of their game. There are good treatments and maintenace today that were not available a few years ago. |
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Veteran
Posts: 226
Location: Middle Tennessee | Thanks for the encouraging words everyone! He was given Tildren as a two year old and then successfully futuritied on. I feel this is why she feels his navicular bone is ugly. It has3 holes that have been there his whole life and never bothered him because he was treated with Tildren so early. The bone spur that has developed on the back of the navicular bone is what I feel his issue is knowing his history. He just became lame after one run, so I know its not the holes bothering him. I feel the bone spur is my main issue. That's why I ask about the Equi-bone and OCD because I her they help remove spurs. |
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Veteran
Posts: 296
| Did the stem cell injections on mine - he was so lame the end of his 6 yr old year that I couldn't ride him anymore. He's 8 now, and sound as sound can be. He lives on a tiny dose of previcoxx, and wears PHT bells full time, as well as soft rides and BOT's when hauling anywhere or standing on hard ground/stalled. I just bought my permit to go hard on him this summer, so I'd say the route I took was a major success. My vet told me a few weeks back that if he hasn't had any lameness issues by now, he probably won't - and if he does, we'll touch it up with some PRP and go on with life. Unfortunately for him he was too far gone for Tildren, and injections only lasted a few weeks at best. I'll never regret going with the stem cells! He is on a pretty strict shoeing regiment, and I'm sure that has helped. I also keep him on Platinum Hoof Support. His hoof has dang near doubled in size since the stem cell, amazing what can be accomplished with technology these days! |
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Vodka for Lunch
Location: Lala Land | RodeoGirlJodi - 2014-04-22 1:02 PM
Thanks for the encouraging words everyone! He was given Tildren as a two year old and then successfully futuritied on. I feel this is why she feels his navicular bone is ugly. It has3 holes that have been there his whole life and never bothered him because he was treated with Tildren so early. The bone spur that has developed on the back of the navicular bone is what I feel his issue is knowing his history. He just became lame after one run, so I know its not the holes bothering him. I feel the bone spur is my main issue. That's why I ask about the Equi-bone and OCD because I her they help remove spurs.
I will say that since giving the equibone his splints are almost completely gone, so that makes me hopeful for some help with the navicular. |
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 Pork Fat is my Favorite
Posts: 3791
Location: The Oklahoma plains. | Another vote for Tildren. And as mentioned above- soft rides- was advice given to me by a nationally recognized podiatrist who said- protect, protect, protect any time you are on anything but soft sand- use a boot!!
I am one to choose anything other than a feed thru but that is just me as far as medical issues are concerned.
I would think the bursa injection would help more than the coffin joint? |
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Expert
Posts: 3514
| I would call Silver Lining herbs. Get the feet and bone and the kidney. And you might also try the one for inflammation . These herbs work. 1 bag last 60
days. |
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 "Drank the Kool Aid"
Posts: 5496
Location: Iowa, LA | CowgirlLindz - 2014-04-22 11:13 AM
I would pull his shoes and get a good barefoot trimmer. Not only is it much easier to make small changes or maintain/adjust breakover (you could just run a rasp over when ever you wanted ) but I really think all these problems are created or at least worsened by humans/shoes. And this is coming from a classically trained english rider. I run barrels on my barefoot horse fine if not better without shoes.
You should totally watch these videos of a navicular mare turned barefoot! I was like you and thought it was a death sentance or at least end of working life. My friend put her navicular gelding down a few years ago - tried everything, corrective shoes, magnetic boots, injections and where going to nerve him but he wasn't a good candidate - I wonder if barefoot would have saved him and others.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXbfl5XLH_A (before )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hKkVlgFJfM (six weeks late )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK-lh65TvHw (this video is seven months later )
there are more videos of her too
Amen! Barefoot saved my gelding! Never has he been this sound! ;-) |
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