Headshaking - any help appreciated

mrsjcmking

mrsjcmking

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 July 2010
Messages
174
Visit site
Hi

Please read through this before commenting.

My pony started exhibiting headshaking about 3 months ago. After keeping a diary and having the vet out, we thought it was probably eye related. So he went into the vet for a full work up. Had blood tests, xyrays, endoscope and a good check in ears and eyes. The vet found the beginnings of squamous cell carcinomas on his thirds eyelids so thought it best to remove them to see if it would help. He came home, not much changed. Carried on with the diary and concluded it was photic headshaking. Purchased the strongest mask available, all the way from Australia. Brought him in during the day, and out at night. Only rode in the dark. We were doing okay, but there was a lump of tissue in his eye that was causing infection, we monitored it. Then a few weeks ago he started headshaking in his stable. Then in his field. Then when we were riding again, even though it was in the dark. Again kept a diary of when it was happening. It seemed to be happening when he is stressed out, upset or excited, and it's getting worse. He went back to the vet for the tissue removal and whilst there they gave him another once over. This time he headshook (is that a word?) at the vets when he was stressed out, so the vet could see firsthand how bad it was.

My vet has now contacted liverpool for a referral to see if they might be able to help. We have tried everything, I have ridden him without tack so it isnt a tack issue, hes doing it int he field when no humans are interacting with him so it isn't a learned behaviour. I have him on magnesium, agnus castus, vitamin B, MSM and extra salt, all of which I have read helps with headshaking. Nothing is working. Every article I have read online seems to be at least 2 years old, so I don't know what the latest procedures are. I have read about coils being inserted?! But there seem to be differing views on how effective it is and whether it can cause more damage than it solves. We are pretty sure it's related to the trigeminal nerve, but obviously we are waiting to get him up to liverpool to have him officially diagnosed

I just wondered if anyone had dealt with this, or is in the process of dealing with this? Has anyone had the surgery, did it work, is it worth doing? Is there anything else I can try?

A bit of background, he is 5 years old, 14.1, few spot colouring, unknown breeding. The headshaking came on suddenly and is getting worse, he is now nose rubbing as well. Unless he is calmed down he can get so frustrated that he will throw himself around, lose his balance and he will box walk in his stable.
 
My horse suffered with headshaking but it was seasonal. It used to start in the Autumn and then disappear in the Spring. Hope you can get it sorted. Good luck.
 
Sorry to hear you aren't having any joy with vets. One of ours headshakes when in pain. Most obvious was a kick to the head, less obvious he has severe hindgut issues, which are causing all manner of troubles, it would seem he head nods when he is really suffering. : (
 
Is his head shaking vertical? My pony and I had a fall 9 weeks ago and following the fall he had a change in personality and behaviour and started head shaking in a figure of 8 pattern and bolting when handled. Following a full work up where hes been gastroscoped, gutteral pouch endoscope and a standing head ct scan, it has shown on ct that my pony has a fracture skull at the joint with his first cervical vertebrae. Hes got the best specialists on his case including Professor Derek Knottenbelt. None of them have ever seen his type of injury before and there is no documentation anywhere of his type of injury and the structures that his fracture site involves. Hes been on high levels of neuropathic pain killers ( has had his original dose doubled with no effect ), handling him at all in the stable sends him in to a head flinging box walking frenzy and he wont go outside other than a mooch in the yard while I muck out. Hes not safe to lead out of a confined area so I've been told to leave him in. Hes now been put on a high dose of steroids to see if they make any difference with a view to doubling it in a week if still no improvement. My vet said giving him steroids is a lesser of 2 evils between treating his broken neck and giving him laminitis and losing him that way. His prognosis is very poor.
 
My freind has a horse owned him since he was 3 years old, when he reached 15 she moved yards and within 6 months started head shaking, he use to stick out and get runny nose even saw him putting his head low between his knees and twitching he also use to duck his head in water. Vets said he was a head shaker and advised on a operation, which was his last resort. But she moved yards to a quieter yard and put him on anti histamines started him on 10 day , put a nose net on when riding and in summer has a full head fly mask on to protect from the sun. After 2 years the head shaking has gone and not returned, and on no anti histamines now. His worst time was auterm threw to spring. Its a puzzle why he just started maybe a stress related thing where he could t cope on a big yard??? we don t really know but it has taken all this time to get him right!! xxx
 
flaxen said:
Is his head shaking vertical? My pony and I had a fall 9 weeks ago and following the fall he had a change in personality and behaviour and started head shaking in a figure of 8 pattern and bolting when handled. Following a full work up where hes been gastroscoped, gutteral pouch endoscope and a standing head ct scan, it has shown on ct that my pony has a fracture skull at the joint with his first cervical vertebrae. Hes got the best specialists on his case including Professor Derek Knottenbelt. None of them have ever seen his type of injury before and there is no documentation anywhere of his type of injury and the structures that his fracture site involves. Hes been on high levels of neuropathic pain killers ( has had his original dose doubled with no effect ), handling him at all in the stable sends him in to a head flinging box walking frenzy and he wont go outside other than a mooch in the yard while I muck out. Hes not safe to lead out of a confined area so I've been told to leave him in. Hes now been put on a high dose of steroids to see if they make any difference with a view to doubling it in a week if still no improvement. My vet said giving him steroids is a lesser of 2 evils between treating his broken neck and giving him laminitis and losing him that way. His prognosis is very poor.
Click to expand...

Yes it is vertical. I'm so sorry to hear about your horse. My vet has said steroids isn't realistically a long term solution and as he's so young it's not his best bet, which is why we have tried the referral to see if there are other solutions available.

His mask has a nose net which has not helped in anyway. He much prefers a busy yard to a quiet one as he's a nosey git and doesn't like to be alone so I don't think that's the reason.
 
Not sure who your vet is or where you are based, but we had a similar issue with our dressage pony and it was diagnosed as having Temporohyoid osteoarthropathy it is quite rare but under-diagnosed probably. The bone has been removed and he is currently improving well, but it is a slow process. I wish you all the luck in the world I know how soul destroying your journey is xxx
 
TinkerMan said:
Not sure who your vet is or where you are based, but we had a similar issue with our dressage pony and it was diagnosed as having Temporohyoid osteoarthropathy it is quite rare but under-diagnosed probably. The bone has been removed and he is currently improving well, but it is a slow process. I wish you all the luck in the world I know how soul destroying your journey is xxx
Click to expand...

How did you get it diagnosed? Which tests did they use? He's going for a CT in Liverpool. And then we will look at options depending on what it shows. Not sure when yet. Unfortunately there has been a strangles outbreak nearby and our YO doesn't want any horses moved atm, which is frustrating for me because if it is something like that ^^ catching it in time could save his life. I'm a bit miffed tbh as the YO was supposed to be transporting him and as she knows her vehicle has not been anywhere near infected yards I don't really see the issue. Especially since the yard that originally had it didn't tell anyone for weeks, allowed the owners to hack out their horses still and it only spread to another yard when someone moved a horse that had been infected and it sadly died a day later. So I'm not entirely sure how transporting my pony to a sterile vet hospital in a box they know hasn't had infected horses in it, driven by people they know haven't been near the yard that has strangles, is an infection risk. Grrr
rant over.

Back to original topic. Any information on how your pony was diagnosed would be helpful because I want to be armed with as much info as possible
 
mrsjcmking said:
How did you get it diagnosed? Which tests did they use? He's going for a CT in Liverpool. And then we will look at options depending on what it shows. Not sure when yet. Unfortunately there has been a strangles outbreak nearby and our YO doesn't want any horses moved atm, which is frustrating for me because if it is something like that ^^ catching it in time could save his life. I'm a bit miffed tbh as the YO was supposed to be transporting him and as she knows her vehicle has not been anywhere near infected yards I don't really see the issue. Especially since the yard that originally had it didn't tell anyone for weeks, allowed the owners to hack out their horses still and it only spread to another yard when someone moved a horse that had been infected and it sadly died a day later. So I'm not entirely sure how transporting my pony to a sterile vet hospital in a box they know hasn't had infected horses in it, driven by people they know haven't been near the yard that has strangles, is an infection risk. Grrr
rant over.

Back to original topic. Any information on how your pony was diagnosed would be helpful because I want to be armed with as much info as possible
Click to expand...

He was diagnosed through endoscopy not a CT scan. I have to say it is a very rare condition but its definitely something to consider. It was diagnosed "fairly" cheaply about £400 which I would imagine would be less than a CT scan. I am sure they know what they are doing at Liverpool.
 
TinkerMan said:
He was diagnosed through endoscopy not a CT scan. I have to say it is a very rare condition but its definitely something to consider. It was diagnosed "fairly" cheaply about £400 which I would imagine would be less than a CT scan. I am sure they know what they are doing at Liverpool.
Click to expand...
He's already had an endoscopy and nothing showed up :(
 
Email Jenny at Calm Healthy Horses - http://www.calmhealthyhorses.com/. She has some research which suggests it could be related to vitamin D deficiency, which could be indicated if you don't have him out much in daylight. It's complex so speak to her - she was going to contact Prof Knottenbelt to share her findings when she was over here in August.
 
JillA said:
Email Jenny at Calm Healthy Horses - http://8www.calmhealthyhorses.com/. She has some research which suggests it could be related to vitamin D deficiency, which could be indicated if you don't have him out much in daylight. It's complex so speak to her - she was going to contact Prof Knottenbelt to share her findings when she was over here in August.
Click to expand...

thanks I will give that ago. Although he was on 24 hour turnout when it started during the summer.
 
mrsjcmking said:
Hi

Please read through this before commenting.

My pony started exhibiting headshaking about 3 months ago. After keeping a diary and having the vet out, we thought it was probably eye related. So he went into the vet for a full work up. Had blood tests, xyrays, endoscope and a good check in ears and eyes. The vet found the beginnings of squamous cell carcinomas on his thirds eyelids so thought it best to remove them to see if it would help. He came home, not much changed. Carried on with the diary and concluded it was photic headshaking. Purchased the strongest mask available, all the way from Australia. Brought him in during the day, and out at night. Only rode in the dark. We were doing okay, but there was a lump of tissue in his eye that was causing infection, we monitored it. Then a few weeks ago he started headshaking in his stable. Then in his field. Then when we were riding again, even though it was in the dark. Again kept a diary of when it was happening. It seemed to be happening when he is stressed out, upset or excited, and it's getting worse. He went back to the vet for the tissue removal and whilst there they gave him another once over. This time he headshook (is that a word?) at the vets when he was stressed out, so the vet could see firsthand how bad it was.

My vet has now contacted liverpool for a referral to see if they might be able to help. We have tried everything, I have ridden him without tack so it isnt a tack issue, hes doing it int he field when no humans are interacting with him so it isn't a learned behaviour. I have him on magnesium, agnus castus, vitamin B, MSM and extra salt, all of which I have read helps with headshaking. Nothing is working. Every article I have read online seems to be at least 2 years old, so I don't know what the latest procedures are. I have read about coils being inserted?! But there seem to be differing views on how effective it is and whether it can cause more damage than it solves. We are pretty sure it's related to the trigeminal nerve, but obviously we are waiting to get him up to liverpool to have him officially diagnosed

I just wondered if anyone had dealt with this, or is in the process of dealing with this? Has anyone had the surgery, did it work, is it worth doing? Is there anything else I can try?

A bit of background, he is 5 years old, 14.1, few spot colouring, unknown breeding. The headshaking came on suddenly and is getting worse, he is now nose rubbing as well. Unless he is calmed down he can get so frustrated that he will throw himself around, lose his balance and he will box walk in his stable.
Click to expand...

Nose rubbing ,the horse throwing him self around and losing balance ,box walking in circles,would discribe a horse having a partial seizure in the part of the brain that controls behaviour ,as far as I know this is called psychomotor siezure.
 
Hi,
Did you get any further with this?

I distribute the Guardian mask in the UK and I've found from customer feedback that headshaking is as much to do with what the horse is breathing in as it is to do with what's getting into their eyes - sunlight or dust/pollen. Many people who have photic headshakers find great results from using the Guardian mask with the nose cover.
Drop me a message if you want to talk about it, I'm not a vet and certainly not an expert compared to those of you who have suffered with headshaking, but I may just have picked up something over the years that will help that you've missed.
https://www.facebook.com/Guardian-masks-UK-641187816013883/
 
Vets have probably checked, but as he is a few spot appaloosa coloured horse it could be Congenital Night Blindness. Veterinary test for this is quite invasive, but a good indicator is a lack of reaction to a strong light (eg a torch) on a very dark night. Non night blind horses will blink rapidly and look away/shut their eyes, whereas a night blind horse will not.
 
To anyone who's interested, and I'm pleased that Mrsjcmking has got her answers : ), mine headshakes in Spring and Summer but is very much improved with a nosenet. Equilibrium Net Relief Muzzle Net is what I use, 3 in each packet I believe. LnP.
 
I wasn't going to post as I felt it probably wouldn't be that useful and is a little bit random till I saw he was a few spot - so some appy in there?

I have a QHx mare that used to head shake, quite mildly compared to yours, but would also drag her nose from time to time and shake her head a lot when she was stressed. I also had all sorts of tests done and found nothing.

To cut a long story short she has tied up once and since then I have managed her as best I could as a PSSM horse as I suspected her to be one. I eventually had her tested for PSSM, which she came back positive for which was no suprise which is why I didn't get her tested straight off. She has always been a very bad tempered mare, however now retired, she is a much happier, kind horse to deal with and living in a field with her mates.

In hind sight I relate the head shaking to discomfort as a result of PSSM. It was never diagnosed as the cause of the head shaking but is a hunch I have for my girl, rightly or wrongly but I feel I ought to mention it incase (and I hope people won't tell me I'm being rediculous!!).

The test I had done was noninvasive using a hair sample that was sent off in the post and was relatively inexpensive and tests for Type 1. You can also have a muscle biopsy done that tests for Type 2, although I never got to that point.

I hope you get to the route cause and he gets sorted. I hate the anguish of the not knowing sensation so you have my deepest sympathies!
 
Peggs said:
I wasn't going to post as I felt it probably wouldn't be that useful and is a little bit random till I saw he was a few spot - so some appy in there?

I have a QHx mare that used to head shake, quite mildly compared to yours, but would also drag her nose from time to time and shake her head a lot when she was stressed. I also had all sorts of tests done and found nothing.

To cut a long story short she has tied up once and since then I have managed her as best I could as a PSSM horse as I suspected her to be one. I eventually had her tested for PSSM, which she came back positive for which was no suprise which is why I didn't get her tested straight off. She has always been a very bad tempered mare, however now retired, she is a much happier, kind horse to deal with and living in a field with her mates.

In hind sight I relate the head shaking to discomfort as a result of PSSM. It was never diagnosed as the cause of the head shaking but is a hunch I have for my girl, rightly or wrongly but I feel I ought to mention it incase (and I hope people won't tell me I'm being rediculous!!).

The test I had done was noninvasive using a hair sample that was sent off in the post and was relatively inexpensive and tests for Type 1. You can also have a muscle biopsy done that tests for Type 2, although I never got to that point.

I hope you get to the route cause and he gets sorted. I hate the anguish of the not knowing sensation so you have my deepest sympathies!
Click to expand...

Apologies - just saw how old this thread was! I still hope the outcome was a positive one :)
*note to self check age of threads in future*
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top