Navicular syndrome is a chronic, progressive cause of forelimb lameness in horses that requires careful long-term management to maintain quality of life.
Navicular disease causes persistent, often severe pain that significantly compromises horse welfare. Early diagnosis and aggressive management are essential to slow progression and maintain comfort. Appropriate trimming and shoeing to reduce pressure on the navicular apparatus is fundamental. Regular pain assessment using lameness scoring guides treatment decisions. Horses whose pain cannot be controlled despite maximal management may reach a point where quality of life no longer justifies continuation — welfare-oriented euthanasia should be considered without delay in such cases.