Your Guide to Equine Health Care

Caudal Heel Pain or Navicular: What’s the Right Term?

December 12, 2019
Posted by Josh Zacharias, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, ACVSMR

A veterinarian explains terms often used to describe horses with front-limb lameness.

Topics: Article, Diagnosing Hoof Lameness, Lameness, Navicular Problems, Pain Management

No account yet? Register

A veterinarian can use hoof testers to identify painful areas in the hoof possibly associated with navicular syndrome. | Photo: Kevin Thompson/The Horse

Q: I’ve heard people use the terms “caudal heel pain,” “navicular disease,” and “navicular syndrome” when referring to a horse that has a lameness associated with the navicular bone and its related structures. Do all of these terms describe the same condition?

A: These terms are similar in meaning; however, technically, they are different.

Caudal heel pain is typically used to describe pain from the heel or back of the foot. A horse with caudal heal pain would respond positively to a palmar digital nerve block. The navicular structures are often included, but the horse could also have pain associated with other structures.

Navicular disease is usually used to describe disease that has caused radiographic changes to the navicular

Create a free account with TheHorse.com to view this content.

TheHorse.com is home to thousands of free articles about horse health care. In order to access some of our exclusive free content, you must be signed into TheHorse.com.

Start your free account today!

Already have an account?
and continue reading.

Favorite

No account yet? Register

Written by:

Josh Zacharias, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, ACVSMR

Josh Zacharias, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, ACVSMR, is an Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine graduate who practices at Countryside Large Animal Veterinary Services in Greeley, Colorado. His interests include equine lameness, surgery, and podiatry. In addition to working as a surgeon and sports medicine specialist, Zacharias is a farrier with nearly 15 years of experience in therapeutic shoeing applications. Much of his caseload includes Western performance horses.

Weekly Poll

Readers’ Most Popular

The Dangers of Foxtail in Your Horse’s Hay

The Accident-Prone Horse

The Effects of Longeing on Your Horse’s Joints

Understanding Strangles in Horses

Top Categories

Create a free account with TheHorse.com!

Name*
First Last
Email*
Password*
Enter Password Confirm Password
Country*
State*
Province / Territory*
What is your primary involvement with horses?
- Horse Owner
- Veterinarian or Vet Student
- Vet Technician or Vet Tech Student
- Farrier
- Other (Please Specify)
Other Involvement
Stay up-to-date!
Subscribe to our Horse Health enewsletter and receive the latest on horse health care, disease, and the latest research.
Subscribe to Announcements
Subscribe to our Announcements list to receive event notifications and special promotions from TheHorse.com.

Featured Media:

Your Guide to Equine Health Care

Caudal Heel Pain or Navicular: What’s the Right Term?

Please login to bookmark

Create a free account with TheHorse.com to view this content.

Start your free account today!

Please login to bookmark

Josh Zacharias, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, ACVSMR

Related Articles

FREE weekly newsletters from TheHorse.com

Sponsored Content

Weekly Poll

Which hoof problem do you encounter most often in your horses?

Readers’ Most Popular

Top Categories

Partners in Equine Health

Our Sites

Resources

Company

Sign In

Need to update your account?

Create a free account with TheHorse.com!