How does Navicular Disease affect your horse?

August 10, 2023

Navicular disease is the result of inflammation or degeneration of the navicular bone and its surrounding tissues.

A crippling disease which all too often leads to early retirement. 

Can Navicular Disease be treated?

The short answer is yes, however like other degenerative diseases you are unable to undo what has already been done.

That being so, you are able to treat the area in order to reduce inflammation and stunt the degenerative disease. The Coffin Joint and or Navicular Bursa can be injected with Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation. It doesn’t stop here; corrective shoeing and anti-inflammatory medication should be high on your list.

It is all well to treat the inflamed area however, without changing the alignment of the horses hoof to support changes within their lower lime the affects of injecting your horses joint will wear thin quickly.

Additionally, anti-inflammatory medication commonly known as Pentosan should be considered. Pentosan will assist in stimulating cartilage production, increasing the quality and quantity of the synovial joint fluid, increased blood supply and nutrition to the joint and subchondral bone.

How can I prevent Navicular Disease?

This is a hard question to answer, some would say its bad luck, the horses genetics left them with no chance of avoiding this all too common and debilitating disease. Nevertheless, joint management, corrective shoeing and an adequate diet will reduce the chances of seeing this disease in younger horses.

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