Treating Horse with both Navicular and Founder

[Sabir Springs]

I have a horse who has both mild navicular AND has foundered. He is actually my mothers horse, and I have no idea when he might have foundered, but by the crest on his neck, he surely has. A few years ago, I had him x-rayed and he does have mild navicular. But up until now, he has always remained sound. He is now just a bit off on the left front. How should we properly trim or shoe this horse with both of these conditions?

[Gary Hill]

If he is just abit off ,on the front then it may just be that the navicular is worse? You need a new fresh set of x-ray's to determine if this horse truely has foundered. Sounds like he is a poster-board horse for founder, but ya need to get a Vet to decide that it has happened. You can do lots to prevent it but you might be late in starting! Good Luck! Gary

[A1Farrier4U]

Actually, the only way to treat navicular is within days of the diagnosis since
waiting too long to treat that problem allows calcium deposits (also known as "spurs" to form on the navicular bone. Once these "spurs" start forming, it is almost, if not virtually impossible, to do anything to treat that situation. Your only hope is to trim this horse at 56º or greater. The founder is a different situation: fortunately, any skilled farrier, given enough time, can grow out the hoof in order to realign the hoof capsule with the boney structure....patience is required!!

[Jaye Perry]

A1Farrier4U-Actually, the only way to treat navicular is within days of the diagnosis

Ya have wait for a diagnosis? Foot conformation and way of going should give one a clue:confused:







since
waiting too long to treat that problem allows calcium deposits (also known as "spurs" to form on the navicular bone. Once these "spurs" start forming, it is almost, if not virtually impossible, to do anything to treat that situation.


There are numerous ways to "Treat".




Your only hope is to trim this horse at 56º or greater.

WE have the answer, we have the angle let's go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:rolleyes:





The founder is a different situation: fortunately, any skilled farrier, given enough time, can grow out the hoof in order to realign the hoof capsule with the boney structure....patience is required!

Only thing I agree with in A#1 response:)

[Thomas_Ride&Drive]

I have a horse who has both mild navicular AND has foundered. He is actually my mothers horse, and I have no idea when he might have foundered, but by the crest on his neck, he surely has. A few years ago, I had him x-rayed and he does have mild navicular. I presume you are saying the horse is overweight judging by the fat deposits on his neck? Have you had him x rayed to diagnose the founder?? Or is this a presumption because of what has happened?

You need to obtain x rays immediately and treat as if its acute laminitis in the meantime - you'll find on this site how to do that if you have a search round.

The x rays will indicate precisely what is wrong and also then enable your vet and farrier to work together to determine the trimming protocol to be adopted.
But up until now, he has always remained sound. He is now just a bit off on the left front. How should we properly trim or shoe this horse with both of these conditions?

[Kevin L. Wyatt]

It is next to impossible to give you answer on how to trim/shoe your horse with out Dorsal/palmer x-rays, and medial lateral x-rays. As Jay has pointed out there are many ways to address this issue witch makes it impossible with out x-rays to say witch way to try. With many things in this industry it depends.


It would also be help full to post pictures of the full body, and each hoof in all three views. Take the side view with hoof on a hard flat surface, and the camera as close to the ground as possible.


You mentioned the horse has a cresty neck. Is it a cresty, but the horse is now at a good wait, and has just not lost the cresty neck, or is the horse still over wait. If the horse is still over wait then next to getting x-rays ordered is putting the horse on a balanced low Kcal, low starch diet. If the horse is over wait the pain will be increased by that weight. Having a cresty neck does not prove the horse foundered, but does predisposes the horse to founder. X-rays are the only way to tell 100% that the Calvin bone has rotated (Foundered). The cresty neck may point out a horse that is Insulin resistant witch is the reason to feed a low starch/sugar diet. http://www.safergrass.org/ this site will help you a bunch on feeding.

[Rick Burten]

In addition to what everyone else has said, for me, its a triage situation. I treat the most serious, active pathology first and foremost, then deal with the rest.

[JMPalmer]

Umm, guys, the OP asked for help two years ago? :eek:

[J.H. shoeing]

better late than never...

[Jaye Perry]

Umm, guys, the OP asked for help two years ago? :eek:
When the last time a busy Farrier did something on time?:rolleyes:

[Rick Burten]

Umm, guys, the OP asked for help two years ago? :eek:
ROTFLMAO! I never looked at the date of the original posting. :eek:

Note to self: Pay closer attention.
:D