Horse Navicular Syndrome Alternative Treatments

Emerging treatments for navicular syndrome offer welfare improvements through better pain management and structural support.

Key Facts

Navicular syndrome encompasses pain arising from the navicular bone, deep digital flexor tendon, and associated structures
MRI has transformed diagnosis by identifying which specific structure is the primary pain source, enabling targeted treatment
Bisphosphonate therapy (tiludronate, clodronate) reduces osteoclast activity in navicular bone remodeling with demonstrated pain reduction
Platelet-rich plasma and stem cell injection into the navicular bursa show promising results in early studies
Corrective shoeing with breakover modification, heel elevation, and wider web shoes redistributes pressure effectively
Palmar digital neurectomy (nerve block surgery) provides pain relief but removes protective sensation, requiring careful owner management
Shockwave therapy applied to the palmar foot region provides temporary pain reduction in some horses

Welfare Considerations

Navicular syndrome welfare management has improved substantially with the development of targeted imaging allowing treatment matched to specific pathology rather than empirical management. Bisphosphonate therapy represents a significant welfare advance since it addresses the bone remodeling process causing navicular pain rather than simply blocking pain signaling as neurectomy does. Horses treated with bisphosphonates show demonstrable improvement in force plate measurements and behavioral indicators of pain, with duration of effect ranging from months to over a year. Neurectomy, while providing dramatic pain relief, creates welfare obligations since the horse cannot feel the bottom of its foot and may sustain undetected injuries. Combining bisphosphonate therapy with appropriate corrective farriery and rehabilitation exercise optimizes welfare outcomes for affected horses. The shift from management by nerve block to management by understanding specific pathology through MRI represents genuine welfare progress.

What You Can Do

Request MRI evaluation for navicular horses rather than relying solely on radiographs which miss soft tissue pathology
Discuss bisphosphonate therapy with your equine vet as a targeted treatment option for confirmed navicular bone disease
Work with your farrier and vet collaboratively to implement evidence-based corrective shoeing for navicular horses
Monitor neurectomized horses with daily hoof inspections for undetected injuries since sensation is absent below the neurectomy site