How Do You Spell NAVICULAR DISEASE?
Pronunciation: [navˈɪkjʊlə dɪzˈiːz] (IPA) 
Pronunciation: [navˈɪkjʊlə dɪzˈiːz] (IPA)
Navicular disease, also known as navicular syndrome or podotrochlosis, is a debilitating condition affecting the navicular bone and associated structures in the hoof of horses. It is a progressive degenerative disorder primarily found in the front feet, causing chronic lameness and significantly impairing a horse's mobility.
The navicular bone, a small, boat-shaped bone located within the hoof, plays an integral role in the horse's weight-bearing and shock-absorbing mechanisms. Navicular disease is characterized by inflammation, degeneration, and subsequent breakdown of the navicular bone, resulting in pain and lameness. The exact cause of the disease remains unclear, with contributing factors including genetics, conformation issues, and repetitive stress on the hoof.
Signs of navicular disease may vary but typically include intermittent or persistent lameness that worsens with exercise. Affected horses may exhibit a shortened stride, a characteristic heel-first landing, or reluctance to bear weight on the affected limb. Diagnostic procedures such as nerve blocks, radiography, and advanced imaging techniques like MRI or ultrasound are employed to confirm the presence of navicular disease.
While currently incurable, navicular disease can be managed to alleviate pain and delay progression. Treatment may involve a multifaceted approach comprising various therapeutic modalities. This can include hoof trimming and shoeing techniques to provide appropriate support, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain relief, and rehabilitation exercises to strengthen supportive structures.
Proactive management, such as regular farriery, proper hoof care, and controlled exercise, can help reduce the risk of developing navicular disease. However, the long-term prognosis for horses with advanced stage navicular disease can be guarded, with some cases necessitating retirement from intense physical activities.
Inflammation of the navicular bone and surrounding structures in the horse; it is marked in the beginning by intermittent limping, followed later by atrophy and stiffness of the muscles of the chest and shoulder, or chest founder, caused by the unnatural gait.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "navicular disease" is derived from the Latin word "navicula", which means "small boat". This term was utilized to describe a particular bone in the foot of horses that resembles a boat in shape. The bone is known as the navicular bone, located in the hoof, between the coffin bone and the short pastern bone. Over time, the term "navicular disease" came to refer to an ailment that affects this specific bone in horses.
