Navicular Syndrome with erosion

Posted by Suzanne on April 11, 2003 at 11:01:06:

I have a 12 year old Palomino gelding that I have owned for 5 years. He was a Western Roper before and now I am riding him English. He has a right front club foot and has been diagnosed with Navicular in both front feet. He has always had problems with the right front lameness but after proper shoeing that is not usually a problem. I had xrays done about 8 months ago and the vet found that the navicular bone was barely visible and she was concerned that it could fracture. We started corrective shoeing at that time and she suggested that I could ride 4 times a week for about 30 minutes which I have done consistently since then at a walk, trot, canter. I ride English but he is still very much on the forehand.

I have also continued the proper shoeing every 5 weeks and the vet is very happy with his feet and how they look. He is much sounder in the front than ever before. I just had another set of xrays done and she found that the bone has not moved but that the bone is eroding the flexor tendon. Over time if this continues it could worsen to a point where the tendon would break and he would have to be put down. We also found that he has active degenerative arthritis in both hocks and have given him 2 rounds of legends which he has responded to already. I have ridden him twice since and he is better in the hocks already after a week. He does not show any lameness at all right now and is very happy. The vet recommends that I retire him. I am a worrier but am not really convinced of what to do right now. I am concerned that I am worsening the situation with this erosion and wondering if I should just accept retirement now. I fear that if I continue to ride and erode that tendon so that he has to be put down I will never forgive myself. Again, I would assume that if it does start to erode he will feel pain?? and I will notice lamenss on the right front. At that point I could stop riding and get xrays. I would like to know if anyone else has had experience with this and what other would recommend in this situation.

Thanks !
Suzanne

Follow Ups:

Re: Navicular Syndrome with erosion Danvers 11:18:34 04/12/03 (9)
- Re: Navicular Syndrome with erosion to Danvers Suzanne 13:30:16 04/12/03 (8)
  - Re: Navicular Syndrome with erosion to Danvers Danvers 12:13:05 04/19/03 (7)
    - Re: Navicular Syndrome with erosion Dr. Myers opinion? Suzanne DeVries 08:44:03 04/25/03 (6)
      - Re: Navicular Syndrome xrays Danvers or Dr. Meyers? Suzanne 13:13:28 04/28/03 (5)
        
        Re: Navicular Syndrome xrays Danvers or Dr. Meyers? M. W. Myers, D.V.M. 16:41:19 05/03/03 (4)
        
        Re: Navicular Syndrome xrays Danvers or Dr. Meyers? Suzanne 19:45:05 05/03/03 (3)
        
        Re: Navicular Syndrome xrays Danvers or Dr. Meyers? M. W. Myers, D.V.M. 22:03:57 05/05/03 (0)
        
        For Everyone My story about shoeing and Navicular !!!! Suzanne 16:28:50 05/05/03 (0)
        
        For Everyone My story about shoeing and Navicular !!!! Suzanne 16:28:39 05/05/03 (0)

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: Hi : I have a 12 year old Palomino gelding that I have owned for 5 years. He was a Western Roper before and now I am riding him English. He has a right front club foot and has been diagnosed with Navicular in both front feet. He has always had problems with the right front lameness but after proper shoeing that is not usually a problem. I had xrays done about 8 months ago and the vet found that the navicular bone was barely visible and she was concerned that it could fracture. We started corrective shoeing at that time and she suggested that I could ride 4 times a week for about 30 minutes which I have done consistently since then at a walk, trot, canter. I ride English but he is still very much on the forehand. : I have also continued the proper shoeing every 5 weeks and the vet is very happy with his feet and how they look. He is much sounder in the front than ever before. I just had another set of xrays done and she found that the bone has not moved but that the bone is eroding the flexor tendon. Over time if this continues it could worsen to a point where the tendon would break and he would have to be put down. We also found that he has active degenerative arthritis in both hocks and have given him 2 rounds of legends which he has responded to already. I have ridden him twice since and he is better in the hocks already after a week. He does not show any lameness at all right now and is very happy. The vet recommends that I retire him. I am a worrier but am not really convinced of what to do right now. I am concerned that I am worsening the situation with this erosion and wondering if I should just accept retirement now. I fear that if I continue to ride and erode that tendon so that he has to be put down I will never forgive myself. Again, I would assume that if it does start to erode he will feel pain?? and I will notice lamenss on the right front. At that point I could stop riding and get xrays. I would like to know if anyone else has had experience with this and what other would recommend in this situation. : : Thanks ! : Suzanne

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