Health Update: Phoenix

Handsome Phoenix!

We wanted let everyone know where things are currently with Phoenix’s health and lameness status. After trying a few different shoeing options over the last few months, some that helped but some that didn’t, we decided to ask Dr. Devine from Pilchuck come out to take a look at him. We were happy to find that the suspensory injury that he had sustained in early 2013 has healed and this recent lameness issue was not coming from the suspensory. We blocked Phoenix’s hoof and found the source of the pain was in his right front foot.

After X‑rays, he has been diagnosed with a negative palmar angle and has changes in his navicular bone. We have put him in wedge shoes to help and he is sound and feeling good in them. He is again being ridden on a regular basis. He will most likely always need this supportive shoe and as long as it is making him comfortable that will be all he needs. However, due to the changes in the navicular bone there is the possibility this will continue to cause inflammation and pain in his feet.

There are different levels of treatments that can be implemented to help his comfort should he need more support. Such things could include injections to help inflammation, yearly medication that has helped slow navicular disease and or giving him an anti-inflamatories drug like Bute or Previcox on the day he is to be ridden. He is currently going well with just the wedge shoes and no medications. Our hope is that the shoes continue to give him the comfort he needs.

He will be most suited for adoption to someone who will want light riding and does not have a desire to show extensively. In cases like this the future, as with all horses for that matter, is unknown but there is a higher chance that he could become to sore be ridden without support of injections or other anti-inflammatory and in the worst case need to be retired as a companion only horse. We would like to find him a family that would be willing to take this chance on him and would commit to keeping him if the need to retire him should occur. He has already had a few different owners and he deserves to find a family and a home that will give him unconditional love forever.