Head shaking!! Teeth???

K

kylie88

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 September 2009
Messages
361
Location
Kent
Visit site
Ok so just to explain the situation I have with my boy. He has started head shaking, throwing his head back and forth. At first thought it could be a pollen allergy, so tried nose net, nostril vet and at first thought it had made a difference but now makes no difference at all. He had his teeth checked 2 weeks before this started so thought it was unlikely to be teeth but had a cheek anyway and noticed he has upper canines coming through. Vets said unlikely to be causing that much discomfort but try him on bute for a few days see if that makes any difference. It didn’t! Some days are worse than others and he doesn’t appear to do it whilst grazing or even tied up with a haynet but as soon as I go to get him he starts, saddles been checked that’s fine. He dose if hes just standing there tied up, leading him and even on the lunge in just a head collar.
Hopefully having chiro out in the next few days to see if anything there, if not over to vets for more investigation.
He seems uncomfortable in his mouth, opening his mouth and chomping the bit so I’m inclined to think teeth. It’s really strange and almost looks like a habit. Anyone else experienced anything like this because of teeth?
 
How long have you had him? Has the head shaking only just started? My lad was exactly like this. I had his teeth checked and they did need doing but it made no difference. He is just unhappy with having a bit in his mouth. I went down the bitless route and its stopped all together.
 
Ive had him 3yrs, yes it's only just started although hes always done a simular thing since i got him but only if he was left standing around for a while and got bored! I did think about bitless but he even does with just a head collar on.
 
kickonchaps beat me to it but one of the most common causes of headshaking and largely overlooked is the browband being too short.
It has the effect of pulling the headpiece up onto the back of the horse's ears, irritating them.
To eliminate the browband see if you can get 2 adult sized fingers under it with ease when on the horse, if so then you can cross it off the list, Oz
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top