Navicular Problems
Article
Navicular Bone Fragments' Effect on Lameness (AAEP 2012)
A team evaluated a possible association between distal border fragments of the navicular bone and lameness.
Photo by Erica Larson, News Editor
Article
Microstructural Alterations and Navicular Bone Degeneration
Researchers hope to more fully characterize alterations at the microscopic level in diseased navicular bones.
Photo by Stacie Aarsvold, BS
Article
Navicular Bone Fragments' Effect on Lameness (AAEP 2012)
February 24, 2013
A team evaluated a possible association between distal border fragments of the navicular bone and lameness.... Read More
Article
Managing Navicular Syndrome
December 18, 2012
Are there times I shouldn't work my young horse recently diagnosed with navicular syndrome? ... Read More
Article
Microstructural Alterations and Navicular Bone Degeneration
March 03, 2012
Researchers hope to more fully characterize alterations at the microscopic level in diseased navicular bones.... Read More
Article
A New Navicular Vantage
January 01, 2012
Technological advances such as MRI have given veterinarians a closer look at navicular syndrome.... Read More
Article
Therapeutic Shoeing Part 1: Foot Fundamentals
September 01, 2011
Addressing the anatomy, conformation, and biomechanical principles of the equine foot.... Read More
Article
The Impact of Navicular Bone Shape and Fragments in Horses
August 11, 2011
Navicular bone shape and fragments found near it could help veterinarians better understand navicular disease.... Read More
Article
Navicular Disease: Possible New Treatment Option from Human Medicine
April 09, 2011
In certain cases of navicular disease, drilling a hole into the navicular bone--a procedure called core decompression that's commonly used to treat human osteonecrosis (bone death caused by poor blood supply to the area)--might provide a new ... Read More
Article
Sidebone and Coffin Bone Fractures (AAEP 2010)
January 25, 2011
When it comes to lame horses, things aren't always simple--the injuries/problems don't always come one at a time. Take sidebone, for example--in a recent study presented at the 2010 the American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention (held... Read More
Article
Equine Navicular Disease
January 01, 2011
The navicular bone, a small, boat-shaped bone nestled deep in the protective womb of the hoof, only measures approximately 6 cm wide and 2 cm deep (top to bottom) in an average 1,200-pound horse, so how can such a small bone be such a nuisance?... Read More
Article
Navicular Disease: Researchers Identify Potential Genes Involved
December 22, 2010
A team of German researchers might have pinpointed the genes responsible in part for the development of navicular disease as the result of a study of Hanoverian Warmbloods. ... Read More
Article
Chips Off the Navicular Bone Not Uncommon, But Do They Cause Lameness?
October 04, 2010
Bone fragments are seen in lame and non-lame horses, which makes it difficult to determine if they matter. ... Read More
Article
Smaller Endoscopes Lead to Less Invasive Navicular Treatment
August 15, 2010
A novel twist to an existing surgical procedure creates new opportunities for healing navicular horses. ... Read More
Article
TheHorse.com Presents Ask the Vet LIVE Q&A: Common Hoof Problems
August 14, 2010
Thrush, underrun heels, hoof cracks, and laminitis, oh my! Today's horses can face many common hoof problems, whether the animals are pasture pets or high-level competition horses. Join us on Monday, Aug. 16, for a live chat event on hoof problems.... Read More
Article
Isoxsuprine (Book Excerpt)
July 26, 2010
Isoxsuprine is most frequently used in horses for the management of navicular disease and laminitis although it is not a universally accepted treatment. Some veterinarians believe it helps, and others remain skeptical. This is partly because there ha... Read More
Article
Navicular Syndrome Management Reviewed
March 10, 2010
Because navicular problems might affect soft tissue as well as bone, MRI is a better diagnostic tool than X ray in these cases, said Robert K. Schneider, DVM, MS, professor at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and part... Read More
Article
Navicular Disease Treatment Easier for Horses and Vets
March 02, 2010
Instead of injecting the steroid triamcinolone acteonide directly into the navicular bursa, which can be technically demanding, veterinarians can instead inject the coffin joint and still potentially manage horses affected by navicular syndrome... Read More
Article
Therapeutic Shoeing of Horses Discussed at AAEP
February 22, 2010
A Table Topic of veterinarians at the American Association of Equine Practitioners 2009 convention chose to discuss applications of the heart bar shoe; the Nolan Plate system, including what it is and how it works; shoeing after deep flexor ten... Read More
Article
Firocoxib Dose for Navicular Pain and Osteoarthritis Established
July 08, 2009
When it comes to pain management in horses, the words "osteoarthritis" and "phenylbutazone" seem to work in tandem. But not all veterinarians are sold on the routine use of this drug in horses. Phenylbutazone is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory... Read More
Article
Navicular Disease: Research Needed to Better Understand
April 29, 2009
More complex than once thought, navicular disease involves multiple structures of the hoof and lower leg.... Read More
Article
How to Take Foot Radiographs (AAEP 2008)
April 06, 2009
Radiographs provide information for making diagnoses, planning treatments, and guiding trimming and shoeing. The quality of the radiographs and the final product generated are dependent on the preparation of the foot, the position of the foot... Read More
Article
Navicular Bursa Injections (AAEP 2008)
March 30, 2009
When a horse has pain in the rear half of the foot, injection of the navicular bursa (sac cushioning the navicular bone from the deep digital flexor tendon) is often considered as a treatment option. Corticosteroids (to control inflammation)... Read More
Article
Tendon Angle and Navicular Lameness (AAEP 2008)
March 15, 2009
Why might one horse suffer from injury to the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) in the navicular area while another doesn't? A recent study suggests that the angle of the DDFT as it passes over the navicular bone might have a lot to do with it.... Read More
Article
MRI Diagnostics: Uses and Limitations
January 05, 2009
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging technique that uses magnetic fields to create various types of cross-sectional and three-dimensional images. While commonly used by physicians, MRI has only been used in equine clinical cases for th... Read More
Article
Investigating Palmar Foot Pain
September 01, 2008
“We have two papers that will be published this year comparing horses without radiographic changes that were diagnosed by MRI with damage in the heel region,” says Sarah Sampson, DVM, of Washington State University. “We looked at 72... Read More
Article
Cases that Mimic Navicular Disease
September 01, 2008
"With MRI we've found horses with coffin bone fractures that weren't visible on X rays, but were treated like navicular horses because they blocked to the heel," says Sarah Sampson, DVM, of Washington State University. "If these are managed like... Read More
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Farm Call: Your Questions Answered
Managing Navicular Syndrome
Q. I have a 5-year-old old Irish Sport Horse mare, recently diagnosed with navicular syndrome. I was wondering what is the best way to take care of her and try to prevent things from getting worse?
Managing Navicular Pain
Q. Q: My horse was diagnosed with navicular syndrome about five years ago. He was put on isoxsuprine and half a gram of Bute twice a day, and we changed his shoeing regimen. He has been sound since, and he remains sound, as long as he gets the Bute and is trimmed on a regular basis. He is now 19 years old. He occasionally becomes lame when the ground is hard--like during the










