Navicular
Knowledge
Q. Two years ago my 13 year old cob x gelding went suddenly and
severely lame.
Veterinary
investigation revealed that he had navicular syndrome and I followed
the advice I was given for his treatment. He was put on a course
of Navilox and bute.
Two years
on, he is still on bute and is as lame as he was when we first embarked
on this course of treatment. Due to his restricted movement (because
of the pain) he has also started to lose muscle tone.
He lives
out all year round, rugged in winter and with access to stables
for shelter. He is fed a concentrate feed as necessary with plenty
of good quality haylage.
I am at
a loss as to what to try next but have heard that homoeopathy could
help?

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A. Navicular
disease is caused by a degeneration of the bone and cartilage of
the navicular bone in the foot. When the cartilage surrounding the
bone gets damaged it causes soreness in the joint. No one really
knows why this happens but drugs are given to improve the blood
supply and to relieve the pain. None of the drugs really help the
root cause.
My approach
to these problems is mainly herbal. I think it is important to lessen
discomfort with plants such as ginger, frankinsense and devil's
claw, while ensuring that the body is absorbing enough calcium and
other minerals to ensure proper development and regeneration of
cartilage and bone.
Nutritional
chemicals such as glucosmaine and herbs such as picrorhiza can help
a great deal to improve nutrition to the joint surface. Over a prolonged
period it is possible for such damaged navicular bones to regenerate,
although this is controversial.
In summary,
ensure you give balanced diet with a good mineral mix. Use herbs
to help mineral uptake, such as comfrey.
Provide some herbal help for the discomfort and use a good joint
formula to help support the navicular bone
If your
question has not been covered adequately in the Vet Advice Topic
Section, please feel free to start a thread in the Forum, and -
time permitting - Stephen will endeavour to answer your question.
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