In Practice 4: 29-36 (1982)
© 1982 British Veterinary Association

Navicular disease and its treatment

Treatment using a combination of corrective shoeing, regular work and anticoagulant therapy is still being assessed. At the present time however, the response to this treatment at the Equine Research Station has shown 77 per cent of cases treated over the last four years to have become sound while being treated and remained sound for at least 12 months, many for considerably longer periods. Conventional treatments result in only 6 to 10 per cent of cases sound after one year. In view of this poor response, compared to the results seen in cases treated with warfarin, it is considered that the risks involved in anticoagulant therapy are more than justified in carefully selected and closely monitored cases of navicular disease. Anticoagulant therapy, however, is only part of the treatment. Factors which may predispose to or precipitate navicular disease, such as poor shoeing and irregular work must also be attended to.

Note:

I should like to thank Lt Col J. Hickman and Mrs K. M. Colles for assistance with the manuscript and Mrs P. Edgley for typing the final draft.