HEADSHAKING, NUCHAL LIGAMENT

[Jade Raleigh]

I moved my boy to a different yard in January, he has only really settled in properly now. He started headshaking in the first week or two when we moved. I got the physio he said his nuchal ligament is damaged ( Is this something a physio can actually feel ? I would have thought an ultrasound could only tell that ).

My boy also has two upper canines coming down ( vet thinks headshaking is due to this, although he had the dentist in Feb and they weren't there so, I don't know if that would be the cause of the Headshaking since January.

We also have clover in every inch of our paddock, ( moving him isn't an option at the moment). My boy is also drooling quite a bit.

He headshakes mildly in the field/stable and in trot to canter transitions. He was worse with headshaking at the start of February. Im getting a cranio sarcal therapist out this weekend which will hopefully help.

Any thoughts ? I can't figure out if it would be the ligament as I didn't see him pull anything or jolt his neck in any way ?

 

[ycbm]

Jade if this is the same 5/6 year old cob, has he recovered fully from the sore back, colic, anaemia, twitching and suspected ulcers he had earlier this year? Has he now stopped the cough that he has had over the same period of time that he has been head shaking?

He's had so many niggles in such a short time I can't help wondering if there isn't still something systemic going on with him.
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[Jade Raleigh]

Jade if this is the same 5/6 year old cob, has he recovered fully from the sore back, colic, anaemia, twitching and suspected ulcers he had earlier this year? Has he now stopped the cough that he has had over the same period of time that he has been head shaking?

He's had so many niggles in such a short time I can't help wondering if there isn't still something systemic going on with him.
.

Yes it is the same horse ? All these problems seem to have started about a month after we moved to the new yard, he was quite stressed which is presumably the cause of the ulcers.

The cough has stopped after I took him off alfalfa I've only seen him do it twice since but I think its because of the saliva build up in the morning.

I honestly can't figure it out, my vet is 100% sure its the teeth but it wouldn't explain why the headshaking was worse in January.

I also had two different vets and they can't seem to shed any light on the situation ?

 

[ycbm]

He could easily have been forming the teeth inside his jaw in January even though you can't see them. My three year old's new teeth are currently bulging out of the bottom of his jawbone.

I think you may need to let the teeth come through and then re-evaluate the head shaking. Have you added a good whack of salt to his feed, it can be a simple miracle cure for some of them.
.

 

[Jade Raleigh]

He could easily have been forming the teeth inside his jaw in January even though you can't see them. My the year olds new teeth are currently bulging out of the bottom of his jawbone.

I think you may need to let the teeth come through and then re-evaluate the head shaking. Have you added a good whack of salt to his feed, it can be a simple miracle cure for some of them.
.

No but I will definitely get on that, very true, he is constantly scratching his muzzle and snorting, he is also quite headshy around the ears, your probably right maybe the teeth are the issue ? Thanks for your help !

 

[Rowreach]

Mine stopped headshaking when I moved yards after I proved the YO was feeding her alfalfa (I'd said nothing but a tiny bit of unmolassed sb to carry her salt), haylage (I'd said hay) and any random supplement she decided to fire into her. She also stopped rubbing her nose frantically on me/anything else handy, and sneezing constantly when ridden.

How long since you stopped the alfalfa and what else is he having?

Salt should be fed at 10g per 100kg of horse, in the feed, don't rely on a salt lick.

However I wouldn't discount the teeth as a factor either.

 

[Jade Raleigh]

Mine stopped headshaking when I moved yards after I proved the YO was feeding her alfalfa (I'd said nothing but a tiny bit of unmolassed sb to carry her salt), haylage (I'd said hay) and any random supplement she decided to fire into her. She also stopped rubbing her nose frantically on me/anything else handy, and sneezing constantly when ridden.

How long since you stopped the alfalfa and what else is he having?

Salt should be fed at 10g per 100kg of horse, in the feed, don't rely on a salt lick.

However I wouldn't discount the teeth as a factor either.

I took him off it about three weeks ago, he is on turnout for 8hrs, fed soaked hay, and two feeds : morning and evening, he is fed horse care 10, with carron oil and 30mls of iron Xcell in the morning.

I might try adding salt to his diet, he did have a salt lick when he was off drinking water a couple of months ago and he was going through it like there was no tomorrow so maybe he is lacking in it ?

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

There may be any amount of reasons for the headshaking; it would appear that your physio says one thing - and your vet says another?? This is the problem with headshaking, it is very often impossible to track down what exactly is going on; and you can spend an awful lot of money going down blind alleys! I haven't ever heard of this type of headshaking mentioned, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.........

You have my sympathy. My mare has trigeminal nerve headshaking and we have basically run out of ideas as to what we can actually DO about her. So she's a field ornament at the moment, being a companion/nanny to my other cob. Poor old girl, she's 10yo and should be in the prime of life, it's very sad about her. She is noticeably worse in the summer; she can go for occasional walks in hand, which she enjoys. If her condition deteriorates to the point where she's in pain and/or distress, then there will be only one option for her.

May I suggest a Facebook group - if you "do" FB, or even if you don't, I've had a lot of help and support from the group. It is called "Equine Headshaking Syndrome". There are other groups, but I've found this one in particular the most helpful of all the ones I'm on.

Good luck. Headshaking is a horrible thing, and a total nightmare.

 

[webble]

As above there can be many causes. From all you gave said yours hopefully is teeth.

TM usually presents as hayfever and builds from there. I lost my boy to it last month.

The Facebook groups are supportive but they also have some slightly whacky ideas not supported by science so please do run things past your vet

 

[Jade Raleigh]

There may be any amount of reasons for the headshaking; it would appear that your physio says one thing - and your vet says another?? This is the problem with headshaking, it is very often impossible to track down what exactly is going on; and you can spend an awful lot of money going down blind alleys! I haven't ever heard of this type of headshaking mentioned, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.........

You have my sympathy. My mare has trigeminal nerve headshaking and we have basically run out of ideas as to what we can actually DO about her. So she's a field ornament at the moment, being a companion/nanny to my other cob. Poor old girl, she's 10yo and should be in the prime of life, it's very sad about her. She is noticeably worse in the summer; she can go for occasional walks in hand, which she enjoys. If her condition deteriorates to the point where she's in pain and/or distress, then there will be only one option for her.

May I suggest a Facebook group - if you "do" FB, or even if you don't, I've had a lot of help and support from the group. It is called "Equine Headshaking Syndrome". There are other groups, but I've found this one in particular the most helpful of all the ones I'm on.

Good luck. Headshaking is a horrible thing, and a total nightmare.

So sorry to hear, thanks for your help

 

[Jade Raleigh]

As above there can be many causes. From all you gave said yours hopefully is teeth.

TM usually presents as hayfever and builds from there. I lost my boy to it last month.

The Facebook groups are supportive but they also have some slightly whacky ideas not supported by science so please do run things past your vet

Oh god im so sorry to hear, but thank you for your help ?

 

[Sossigpoker]

You should supplement with salt and magnesium to balance the potassium in the grass.
Mine does a nose flick when it's hot and sunny so we try and keep him turned out where there's shade and always with a UV fly mask on.

 

[brighteyes]

A nosenet sorted ours - if it blows out of place, we get immediate shaking.