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HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Hoof » Navicular Disease / Chronic Heel Pain SynDrOme »
  Discussion on Empirically start nsaid for heel pain?
Author Message
New Member:
chrisl

Posted on Saturday, Nov 9, 2013 - 12:01 pm:

I did a foolish thing and recently acquired a handsome 13 year old 16.1 hand paint gelding who, though he can move nicely (I've seen in the pasture, though rarely, because he hardly ever runs around, unlike every other horse I've had ) is very choppy and short strided at the trot, extremely grumpy to work with on the ground, stumbles a fair amount, and - long story short - my veterinarian after watching him, hoof testing, doing flexions, and blocking his front feet, suspects a navicular or posterior heel pain synDrOme. He has never been overtly lame for me. I have been trying to get some history on him, and recently discovered that he had been bucking and acting out on the ground and that was why I had the opportunity (!) to buy him. Naturally, I wasn't told this. I have a pretty limited budget, but she advised that I take him to a lameness specialist and have a more thorough work up - including perhaps MRI - done. I think this is likely a very long standing problem, he will be very lightly used, and I am inclined to empirically try nsaids before I spend a lot more money on diagnostics. I'm trying to sort out laziness vs bad training vs pain - and, of course, I want to rule out the pain first because I think he's actually a very nice, gentlemanly guy. I have some Previcox, and thought I'd try giving him 57mg daily for a week or two and see if his attitude/stride/etc changed. Is this a bad idea?
Also, when stressing a joint to look for navicular issues, wouldn't you expect to get a positive test with foot extension, rather than (plantar) flexion?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Nov 10, 2013 - 12:30 pm:

Welcome Christine,
First I would correct any foot conformation abnormalities as described in the article associated with this discussion area. As to the use of NSAID's in this condition, this is discussed in the article and as to whether this is a reasonable choice for your horse will have to be discussed and decided by your veterinarian.

Revisiting your diagnosis description, were the blocks to the feet done in a progressive manner as described in the article? Radiographs should be done prior to a MRI. As to the answer to the interpretation of flexing the foot, it would depend on the nature and position of the lesion.
DrO
New Member:
chrisl

Posted on Sunday, Nov 10, 2013 - 2:44 pm:

Thanks, Dr O. His feet actually look ok, other than the excessive wearing of his toes from his short, shuffling gait. When I got him, he was shod in front and his heels were a little contracted, but looking much better under the care of my excellent barefoot specialist farrier. (I would not resist having him shod if I thought that were the answer, but his gait and behavior were no different when he was shod, so I've opted to keep him barefoot. He doesn't seem more tender footed over hard ground or gravel.) I know these sort of vague situations can be complicated and, honestly, part of my frustration is that my own veterinarian did what appeared to be a pretty sub-par exam (especially after I read the information on this site), no films, and then just referred me elsewhere. I guess what I'm really asking is, how much would a trial of NSAIDs interfere with a more thorough evaluation if I decide to do that in the next month or so, and how long should he be be off them before I schedule that? I feel like it might help me sort out the issue a little better. And, if I decided to just go ahead and try that, do you think Previcox or bute would be the better choice (I have both)? Thanks, Chris
Member:
natalya

Posted on Monday, Nov 11, 2013 - 10:24 am:

I had a navicular horse last year, unfortunately we have to sell her to people who going to trail ride her lightly do to her condition. She was diagnosed with navicular through the x-rays. She had a nerves block before and flection test and all other basic routines. Well, for the x-raise you can have horse on bute ( that what we give ours per our vet)for other exams better if you have stop NSAID for a few days before exam. Our horse was injected then and became very rideble and trainable. She wasn't suited for barrel raising thou, but was good just for riding. People who we sold her to, are still very happy with her. Also she has to have corrective shooing with a raise hill bars, to elevate hill, to prevent sinking inn and create pain.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Nov 14, 2013 - 7:24 am:

I don't believe a trial of NSAID would prevent evaluation if the horse remains lame. However I would take him off them a week before a involved exam, it might make interpretation easier. Though the evidence is thin, firocoxib is thought to be easier on the GI tract than phenylbutazone. If your horse is wearing the toes, it suggest that you should be squaring them off during the trim.
DrO
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