ear bonnet / head shaking / help!?

NiceNeverNaughty

NiceNeverNaughty

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wondering if anyone can offer any ideas.

My horse has just had 3 weeks off as she went from being a little fussy in her mouth to sneezing so violently under saddle we had to stop a lesson short. She has had her airways scoped and aside from being very narrow she was clear, they went on and scoped her stomach as in addition over the previous few weeks she had got very grumpy and lost condition, she wasn’t really eating her hay coming in to the stable. She had ulcers, only grade 1 but they are being treated with peptizole and 3 weeks on she is definitely happier in herself and less grumpy. While she was sedated she also had her wolf teeth out. We were back last week as she had developed snot from one side only and a very very slight cough and so she was xrayed (sinues). All clear. She’s had a week of antibiotics and I was told I could ride again yesterday. The vet is at a bit of a loss and said all they can is it’s been a primary sinus infection which has now gone.

- she only ever sneezed under saddle
- it was every couple of strides and really violent
-she had also started throwing her head around and shaking it as if flies were annoying her
-she would every opportunity frantically rub her head on her legs

Now. Ive seen no sneezing,or any of this at all while she has been on rest, only the snotty nose. I lunged her a few times and nothing, the vet lunged her and she was fine also. I have started her back under saddle and Im just gutted, not much seems to have changed. The only thing that has stopped is the really violent sneezing, which I can put down to having been due to the sinus infection that has cleared. We hacked out today and she constantly threw her head around, either trying to get the reins from me to rub on her leg or shaking her head as if something was irritating her. Not the classic headshaking flick from what Ive seen on other people’s videos, a definite shake as if flies are around her ears. In addition, she is constantly snorting and seems to be clearing her airways every few strides.

My insurance is already almost at the max and Ive 2 lots of £500 excess to pay, the vets have said they can’t find anything wrong. Im just gutted, any suggestions?? I thought of maybe trying an ear bonnet? A Nose net also and she is already in a Micklem. I even pulled her mane and forelock really short as sometimes it was as if they were annoying her! I’ll try anything now!! thanks for any ideas :)
 
It does sound like classic headshaking due to either nerve pain, the trigeminal nerve being effected or due to a pollen sensitivity which combined with the sinus infection may have made her extremely sore and distressed, if she had her airways scoped that may contribute to how she is currently as it can irritate the already sensitive nasal passages, headshaking at it's worst can be extremely violent as they are often very distressed.

For now I would treat it as a pollen allergy, a nose net when riding, get her onto antihistamines and if you can keep her away from sources of pollen as much as possible, not easy but there may be one tree that has set it off and by avoiding that she may settle down once the pollen has gone.
 
mine "ear shakes" from March to October just like it's flies even when there are non around, it was so violent she was nearly falling over. She wears a fly bonnet during these months and it's pretty much cured her - they're not expensive so worth a try.
 
thank you both, have ordered a bonnet and net so will take it from there. I was really hoping this wasnt head shaking but the more I read it seems it might be :(
 
I am currently trying human antihistamines (I couldn't afford the vet prescribed ones so I've gone for normal Zyrtec type ones, his eyes are definitely brighter since taking them, he gets very dull eyed and grumpy or wild when bad), a nosenet when ridden or led out and a different type for in the field. I don't think it filters all the pollen but one theory is that it disrupts the flow of air which can benefit them for some reason. I will also trial Vaseline around his nostrils and have bought an equilibrium riding mask with ears to go over his bridle when ridden/worked. I haven't tried this yet as I bought a size too small. Good luck.
 
I use an ear bonnet & nose net on my headshaker from spring to Autumn & works a treat with him,he is rideable without but obviously not happy. This combo has been the perfect solution.
 
NeverEver said:
wondering if anyone can offer any ideas.

My horse has just had 3 weeks off as she went from being a little fussy in her mouth to sneezing so violently under saddle we had to stop a lesson short. She has had her airways scoped and aside from being very narrow she was clear, they went on and scoped her stomach as in addition over the previous few weeks she had got very grumpy and lost condition, she wasn’t really eating her hay coming in to the stable. She had ulcers, only grade 1 but they are being treated with peptizole and 3 weeks on she is definitely happier in herself and less grumpy. While she was sedated she also had her wolf teeth out. We were back last week as she had developed snot from one side only and a very very slight cough and so she was xrayed (sinues). All clear. She’s had a week of antibiotics and I was told I could ride again yesterday. The vet is at a bit of a loss and said all they can is it’s been a primary sinus infection which has now gone.

- she only ever sneezed under saddle
- it was every couple of strides and really violent
-she had also started throwing her head around and shaking it as if flies were annoying her
-she would every opportunity frantically rub her head on her legs

Now. Ive seen no sneezing,or any of this at all while she has been on rest, only the snotty nose. I lunged her a few times and nothing, the vet lunged her and she was fine also. I have started her back under saddle and Im just gutted, not much seems to have changed. The only thing that has stopped is the really violent sneezing, which I can put down to having been due to the sinus infection that has cleared. We hacked out today and she constantly threw her head around, either trying to get the reins from me to rub on her leg or shaking her head as if something was irritating her. Not the classic headshaking flick from what Ive seen on other people’s videos, a definite shake as if flies are around her ears. In addition, she is constantly snorting and seems to be clearing her airways every few strides.

My insurance is already almost at the max and Ive 2 lots of £500 excess to pay, the vets have said they can’t find anything wrong. Im just gutted, any suggestions?? I thought of maybe trying an ear bonnet? A Nose net also and she is already in a Micklem. I even pulled her mane and forelock really short as sometimes it was as if they were annoying her! I’ll try anything now!! thanks for any ideas :)
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Hi (new here! )

I have a mare like this, ear bonnet, nose net , Piriton tabs (ask your chemist for them I can get 500 for £10 rather than £35 from vets)
I also smear vaseline round her nostrils, as in theory it's suppose to make the pollen stick to it rather than go up their nose.
 
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