Clare85
Well-Known Member
I have just returned from Langford today after our cob had her headshaking workup with Veronica Roberts yesterday.
Esme started headshaking in September/October 2016. We tried nose net, face mask, upping salt intake, mag ox, shakeaze nose guard, removing from clover, etc). My vet came out and conducted investigations (teeth, eyes, ears, back, x-rays, scope, bute trial, steroid trial) which threw nothing up. He then referred her to Langford. Prior to our appointment, Veronica has spoken at length to me on the phone and is an absolute font of information, as well as being lovely and very generous with her time. She is very passionate about her research and is determined to find a cause and effective treatment for headshakers.
Yesterday, Esme was assessed on the lunge and under saddle, where it was determined she was not a candidate for nerve blocking. She then had a CT scan, a scope (including guttural pouches), teeth exam and eye exam. The upshot of Esme's workup yesterday is that Veronica feels 90% sure that she is trigeminal mediated. However, she needs further video evidence before she is comfortable confirming the diagnosis 100%. We will send her further videos this week and then Esme will likely be referred to Liphook for the Equi-PENS therapy.
Veronica has explained to us that 50% of horses do not respond at all to the PENS, 25% will respond short term (e.g. days/weeks) and 25% respond long term. Each patient will need a minimum of 3 treatments. At this point, all we can do is hope that Esme falls into that golden 25%, but there is no way to know. The treatment is still so new (only 3 years or so) and they don't know why some horses respond and some don't.
It really is the worst thing I have dealt with in more than 20 years of caring for horses. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I will post updates about Esme's treatment here as hopefully it will prove useful to anyone considering the Equi-PENS therapy for their headshaker.
Esme started headshaking in September/October 2016. We tried nose net, face mask, upping salt intake, mag ox, shakeaze nose guard, removing from clover, etc). My vet came out and conducted investigations (teeth, eyes, ears, back, x-rays, scope, bute trial, steroid trial) which threw nothing up. He then referred her to Langford. Prior to our appointment, Veronica has spoken at length to me on the phone and is an absolute font of information, as well as being lovely and very generous with her time. She is very passionate about her research and is determined to find a cause and effective treatment for headshakers.
Yesterday, Esme was assessed on the lunge and under saddle, where it was determined she was not a candidate for nerve blocking. She then had a CT scan, a scope (including guttural pouches), teeth exam and eye exam. The upshot of Esme's workup yesterday is that Veronica feels 90% sure that she is trigeminal mediated. However, she needs further video evidence before she is comfortable confirming the diagnosis 100%. We will send her further videos this week and then Esme will likely be referred to Liphook for the Equi-PENS therapy.
Veronica has explained to us that 50% of horses do not respond at all to the PENS, 25% will respond short term (e.g. days/weeks) and 25% respond long term. Each patient will need a minimum of 3 treatments. At this point, all we can do is hope that Esme falls into that golden 25%, but there is no way to know. The treatment is still so new (only 3 years or so) and they don't know why some horses respond and some don't.
It really is the worst thing I have dealt with in more than 20 years of caring for horses. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I will post updates about Esme's treatment here as hopefully it will prove useful to anyone considering the Equi-PENS therapy for their headshaker.
