Head Shaking Syndrome

So sorry to hear what happened dancinghorse. I'm afraid mine was also PTS in November last year after the second operation didn't work. She came through both operations very well but they had no effect. The facial pain got worse and she was rubbing her face on anything she could causing trauma. It was the hardest decision ever but the right one as it was only going to get worse. I think it also started to effect the trigenial nerve branch down her cheek too. She was PTS at Langford and they used her trigenial nerve in their latest research so I hope one day they will be able to help horses that end up with this.
 
Horses can be so heartbreaking, sorry to hear that....we will never know what we end up buying. But If i ever purchase a horse again in future I will try and go off recommendations, where I might even know the horse- buy in summer and see it a few times. That might beat the allergy related shaker for all those who sell headshakers in winter! We might have a chance that way. For the idiopathic shakers, who can develop it at any time or age, well, just a fingers crossed that we can't be so unlucky to have bought another that goes the same route. But maybe at a buying stage, to cover buying an already made one, a drug test. Then fingers crossed rest of the way that they don't develop it!
 
It's a hideous condition. I've just had the most beautiful, honest pony PTS. We tried all sorts of drugs, but nothing could be done and the poor pony had some terrible days.
The insurance company have suggested it was behavioural - and how I wish it had been. I hope I never encounter head shaking in a horse again.
 
Clava said:
I have cured my headshaker (3 years doing it and a tb) by feeding salt and removing from high potassium forage such as grass. Please read this , as someone else did the same....http://ihdg.proboards.com/thread/126659/reggies-headshaking-salt-miracle-cure
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I'm pleased your horse has had a good result.

I did try salt and magnesium, inside, outside and all sorts of other miracle cures. I would have done anything to relieve the poor pony's suffering. Nothing worked. He has been seen by top vets specialising in head shaking and I discussed all these cures with them.
This is not a little flick of the nose or odd shake, that is helped with a nose net. This is whole body sensitivity, constant head tossing, nose rubbing, jaw clamping. His whole behaviour changed in less than a week. I discovered that hardly anyone knows much about head shaking, including very experienced people who have had horses in their families for generations. The facts remain that there is very little that can be done for idiopathic head shakers. It is an incredibly painful and distressing condition for the horse and was distressing for me as an owner to see. I did what was right for the pony and ended his unbearably suffering. My only regret is that I should have done it sooner.
 
Some people think vaccinations may bring on head shaking, i think the theory is they can turn the body's immune system on itself (autoimmune disease) or inhibit it totally. That's my interpretation of it anyway. If you google 'vaccinosis headshaking' quite a few sites come up about it. Even some vets seem to be recognising it now.
Be interesting to know if any horses had developed head shaking after their first course or within 3 months of boosters?
 
tedmunster said:
Some people think vaccinations may bring on head shaking, i think the theory is they can turn the body's immune system on itself (autoimmune disease) or inhibit it totally. That's my interpretation of it anyway. If you google 'vaccinosis headshaking' quite a few sites come up about it. Even some vets seem to be recognising it now.
Be interesting to know if any horses had developed head shaking after their first course or within 3 months of boosters?
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No. As the weather changed from cold to warm - but he'd never had a history of head shaking ever. Sudden onset.
 
My boy did it a lot last year, but this year I have managed to stop it by giving him Global Herbs Polleneeze which helps with the runny eyes and nose and also he gets two tablespoons of salt a day and thirdly I have taken him bitless which seems to have helped the most!:)
 
Headshaking is such a variable thing, with so many possible causes, including whether it's allergy-based or neurological. If we could pinpoint a causative factor it would be a start, but there are just so many possibilities.
It's so sad that it's affecting so many horses, I just hope the ongoing research can bring vets to a better treatment method than the ones currently on offer.
Edited to add: my horse is a headshaker but it's manageable with a nose net. I don't vaccinate anymore either. His symptoms are worse when windy but they seem to be getting milder each year - so its not always the case that it gets progressively worse
 
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Had this problem last year and mine went mad with a nose net on. This year though put him on Nupafeed calmer which has stopped it completely.
 
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