intermitant headshaking

[monkey54]

my horse has suddenly started headshaking this summer, intermitantly, but he was alot worse in the field than in his stable. some days hes fine some days hes very sensitive and almost 'snatches' his head up and down when ridden/turned out. he has never been sensitive to anything in the past 13 years, i have tried nose nets to no great avail, naf shake releif, mixed pollen nat. tablets...i have even tryed local honey! i have heard that these kind of problems are largely on the increase? some weeks hes fine and some weeks hes very bothered, ears/teeth etc seem fine, its really affected his competing and im reluctant to do much now apart from fun things as it a real hit or miss on the day, i have looked into steroid jabs, has anyone else used these kind of treatments with similar problems? or any miracle cures?! he is in his lateish teens now so not a spring chicken, is it likely to go away for the winter? he has been alot better at home over past 8weeks hardly showing any symptoms, so i thought it was all working! but when i take him off to various shows it has still been a big problem, someone has suggested acupuncture? any ideas gratefully received as i think he gets frustrated with it when were out too!

 

[bushbaby28]

had a headshaker on loan. does he try to scratch his head on his legs/road/fence?

i'd ask your vet as in worst cases you can have an operation to desensitise the nerve in their noes but personally i think this is quite an extreme solution. this was suggested wen he couldnt even go out of his stables and was scratching his noes on barb wire.

however, he then got a tooth absess and once this was removed it got so much better! this had not been picked up by dentist last time he'd been checked (!?!).

u can also have allergy checks so u can check what it is hes sensitive too... ours was sensitive to grass... useful eh!

professor knottenbolt (i think) at liverpool uni has done a lot of research into headshaking so look up some of his articles and it might give you more info.

 

[chocolate]

My mare does this in the summer too. I put it down to hay fever. I've also tried NAF, local honey & nets over noses.

I spoke to the vet and he said that lots of horses are having the same problems as are humans too.

Is you horse better on colder wet days?

My mare has been much better lately. If you horse doesn't get better i would ring the vet just in case.

Good luck!

 

[Elle123]

i have heard good reports on the treatment thats on www.headshakers.com. not me personally but someone i know. maybe worth looking into.
Elle
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