Companion Animals

Horse Navicular Syndrome - Pain Management

Navicular syndrome causes chronic forelimb pain in horses, and multimodal management including shoeing, medication and surgery offers meaningful welfare improvement.

Key Facts

Navicular syndrome affects the navicular bone, bursa and associated structures in the foot
Quarter horse breeds and warmbloods are most predisposed
MRI diagnosis has transformed understanding of navicular pathology and treatment selection
Egg-bar shoes and rolled toes reduce navicular pressure and improve many horses' comfort
Bisphosphonate drugs reduce bone remodelling and improve soundness in some cases

Welfare Considerations

Navicular syndrome causes significant chronic pain that is often undertreated. MRI diagnosis enables targeted treatment that improves welfare outcomes substantially over empirical management.

What You Can Do

Seek MRI-based diagnosis for horses with chronic forelimb lameness to guide treatment
Work with a farrier and vet collaboratively for optimal navicular shoe management
Discuss bisphosphonate treatment with your vet if conventional management is insufficient