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A very common issue in the horse world today is “navicular.” With proper nutrition the body functions properly and things like navicular don’t happen when the body is getting what it needs. We have seen the effects of navicular issues reversed with our product.

Definition: An inflammation or degeneration of the navicular bone and its surrounding tissues, usually on the front feet. It can lead to significant and even disabling lameness without the proper nutrition.[3]

Function:To protect the joint and tendons from pressure and concussion (the navicular bone acts as a pulley on the deep digital flexor tendon, which takes some of the stress off the coffin bone).Also to act as a valve for blood flow to the coffin bone and corium inside the hoof. [4]

Causes: Said by the scientific community that there is no single known cause of Navicular Syndrome, although many theories. In SLH opinion it comes down to nutrition, “you are what you eat.” If you are not getting all of the proper nutrition you require then abnormalities will occur.[1] These are two major causes of navicular according to research.

Compression of the navicular bone under the Deep Digital Flexor tendon and the back of the small pastern bone. Repeated compression in this area can cause cartilage degeneration, with the cartilage flattening and gradually becoming less springy and shock absorbing. The cartilage may also begin to erode. Cartilage degeneration is common in navicular horses, usually along the flexor surface.[5]

Cartilage erosion may progress to the point that the bone underneath will become exposed. With the cartilage no longer present to protect it, the navicular bursa and DDF tendon may become damaged by the constant rubbing against the navicular bone. Inflammation of the navicular bursa may occur, even if cartilage damage is not severe. This is probably due to the friction between the navicular bone and the DDF tendon from compression.

Constant compression can also increase the bone density directly under the cartilage surfaces, especially on the flexor side. This actually tends to make the bone more brittle, and thus more likely to break.{mosimage}

Tension placed on the ligaments that support the navicular bone. Some experts believe that the degenerative process begins with excess tension placed on these ligaments. Excess tension causes strain and inflammation. Inflammation from strain of the impar ligament can decrease blood flow to and from the navicular bone, as the major blood vessels supplying the bone run up and down this area. If the ligament continues to be strained, it can thicken and permanently reduce blood flow to the navicular bone.

Because veins are more easily compressed than arteries, blood flow to the bone would be less obstructed than blood flow from the bone. This would cause a build up of pressure within the navicular bone. The navicular bone, in response to both the increased pressure and overall decreased blood supply, would absorb mineral from its center.[2,3,4]

Other contributing factors: upright pasterns, small feet, narrow and upright feet, significant downhill build, and long toes with low heels[2]

Clinical signs: Heel pain is very common in horses with Navicular Syndrome. Lameness may begin as mild, and progress to severe lameness. This may be due to strain and inflammation of the ligaments supporting the navicular bone, reduced blood flow and increased pressure within the hoof, damage to the navicular bursa or DDF tendon, or from cartilage erosion.

Horses displaying a "tiptoe" gait - trying to walk on the toes due to heel pain. They may stumble frequently. The lameness may switch from one leg to another, and may not be consistent.

Lameness usually occurs in both front feet, although one foot may be sorer than the other.Lameness is usually mild (1-2 on a scale of 5). It can be made worse when the horse is worked on a hard surface or on a circle.

After several months of pain, the feet may begin to change shape, especially the foot that has been experiencing the most pain, which tends to become more upright and narrow.[2,3,4]

Treatment: #12 Feet and Bone Support with the #37 Kidney Support. Along with this whole oats are going to be very beneficial due to the fact they help oxygenate the blood and will help strengthen the tendons, ligaments, and bones of the foot.[1] The #12 Feet and Bone Support will benefit the horses by giving the nutrition to the horse to support the bones if they are porous by making them more dense or if the bones have hooks on them it will help dissolve the hooks. The #37 Kidney Support will help get the kidney functioning to their full potential again. Being able to excrete those impurities out the urinary system, as well as, combat with the inflammation the horse can be dealing with in navicular cases.[1]

Proper hoof care needs to happen also. Having good angles will befit the healing process as well.

What we need to be trying to do is mimic the horses natural grazing habits and simply offer them what they would naturally go out and eat if it was available to them. So perhaps moving around to diffrent combinations from time to time will have to happen.

Recovery time: Our rule of thumb is that for every year the horse has been navicular it will take a month to reverse it with a minimum of three months. This can change with each individual so that is just an estimated time frame, so one horse could be 100% in 60 days and the one next to him 120 days or longer on the same feeding program.[1]

Sources:

1. Silver Lining Herbs Catalog

2. Understanding and Treating Navicular Disease, Douglas Novick, DVM, www.novickdvm.com/navicula.htm

3.Navicular Disease, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navicular_syndrome

4.Navicular syndrome in horses, Recovery EQ, www.recoveryeq.com/navicular_horses.htm