Because the exact cause of navicular disease is complex and can involve both developmental and biomechanical factors, it is not always possible to prevent it entirely. Careful hoof management, balanced trimming or shoeing, and veterinary-guided treatment plans can help reduce stress on the heel and slow progression in affected horses. In this Ask TheHorse Live excerpt, Lauren Trager, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVSMR, of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, in Blacksburg, discusses navicular disease in horses and how veterinarians might slow its progression.

This podcast is an excerpt from our Ask TheHorse Live Q&A. Listen to the full recording here.

About the Expert:

Picture of Lauren Trager, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVSMR

Lauren Trager, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVSMR

Lauren Trager, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVSMR, is a clinical assistant professor of equine sports medicine at the Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, in Blacksburg. She is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Trager loves to teach and enjoys working on challenging lameness and poor performance cases, particularly those with neck and back pain and anything that involves advanced imaging.