Massive panic in the trailer today, scared the life out of me! And ideas?

[SuperCoblet]

Just a bit of background, I've had him for 4/5 weeks now and he's just turned 5. Rarther hyper youngster that has seemed to calm down over the past few days with people commenting on how calm he is.

Took him for a lesson today about half an hours drive, loaded and traveled perfectly, was really good in the lesson, despite us all getting soaked! Loaded him up to come home fine, he decided to have a week in the box. I was standing with him with mum just outside, suddenly he started to black out and went a but wobbly and quiet. He wasn't breathing! I screamed at him and hulled his head up, thankfully he came around within about 10 seconds, which felt like forever! He had a bit of a panic and kicked about but soon settled back, instructor came over and had a quick check and everything seemed ok.

Now, we think as he was having a wee he lowered his head too much and blocked his airway on the breast bar, but surely he would have noticed this and lifted his head? He can be a bit daft, but not to the extent he could have strangled himself surely?!

I'm just glad he's ok now, I'm still going through it all in my head over and over!

 

[Bryndu]

I would suggest you get him checked out for Narcolepsy....just in case.

Good luck..

Bryndy

 

[Ella19]

you say he's suddenly calmed down over the last few days, this would ring warning bells to me along with this episode. Keep an eye on him but sudden lethergy will need a vet. It may be nothing, or he might just be a bit under the weather but definately keep an eye on it. Have you had a look at his gums to see if they are pale?

 

[PennyJ]

No ideas, sorry, but I would say that's one to phone up your vet for a chat about... It would have frightened the life out of me too if I'd been there.

 

[Marydoll]

Vet

 

[noodle_]

I would suggest you get him checked out for Narcolepsy....just in case.

Good luck..

Bryndy

thats the first thing i thought off too

 

[Mince Pie]

you say he's suddenly calmed down over the last few days, this would ring warning bells to me along with this episode. Keep an eye on him but sudden lethergy will need a vet. It may be nothing, or he might just be a bit under the weather but definately keep an eye on it. Have you had a look at his gums to see if they are pale?

This

 

[starryeyed]

I'd definitely be getting the vet out, doesn't sound at all right and even if it's nothing, at least your mind will be put at ease. Hope it doesn't happen again, sounds scary!

 

[Clippy]

thats the first thing i thought off too

Definately sounds like Narcolepsy

 

[charmeroo]

Agree with narcolepsy. However, don't panic - it can be managed once you know the signs and providing it doesn't happen when you are riding. A lot of horses who have this only do it with a particular situation.

 

[SuperCoblet]

Thanks everyone, what is narcolespy? Never heard of it lol x

 

[SuperCoblet]

He didn't fall completely over and legs didn't really buckle, but he actually stopped breathing. He had a carrot about 2 mins before having a wee, chewed it and thought nothing of it. He then had a wee, and this episode then spat a bit of carrot out but it was all chewn and gone I thought. We put him in the stable when we got back with his fleece and a big hay net, went back down an hour later and he was fine and clearly had a lay down but he was absolutely ok.

 

[SuperCoblet]

Bump sorry x

 

[katherinef]

I'm sorry but this really does sound like a neurological episode. Narcolepsy has to be up there but equine epilepsy is possible. I would definitely get this checked out. Also keep an eye on him and if any similar episodes keep a note of when they are happening and if there are any predisposing factors or triggers. If it is narcolepsy or epilepsy and you know the triggers you are on the way to managing the condition.

 

[Jnhuk]

Thanks everyone, what is narcolespy? Never heard of it lol x

It is a sleep disorder. Brief article on understanding narcolepsy from HH few years ago

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horsecare/1370/103928.html

 

[dafthoss]

Definatly have a chat with the vet about it, having a wee in the trailer shouldnt cause any problems.

 

[amage]

Vet....and if you got bloods done when you bought him I would be getting some again to do a comparison. You say he spat out a bit of carrot after the episode? The have to be putting fair pressure on a bar with neck to choke themselves. I have seen it happen once when a horse was doped and hung himself on stable door. He was fine but his owner had just left him to set up clippers after sedation...she learnt never to do that again! I would get vet out tomorrow for a full mot and discussion about what happened!

 

[muddygreymare]

Definitely give the vet a call. Fingers crossed you get to the bottom of it soon.

 

[SuperCoblet]

Thanks everyone, will be speaking to his owner (on loan) and see what can be done

 

[Orangehorse]

He might have stopped his breathing on the breast bar - when mine was sedated for X rays the vet said not to leave him unattended until he was OK again as she heard of horses leaning on the stable door and cutting off their air supply (and presumably dying although she didn't say that).

 

[Foxhunter49]

I agree with Narcolepsy. It is a disorder whereby someone or animal drops off to sleep for no real reason and stops breathing.

You say you have had him for a month and that he was rather hyper. Then the last few days he has chilled out.

I would suggest (and I have had experience of this) that he is greatly lacking in proper sleep. With all the strange things going on and being green he has lacked REM (deep) sleep. This can bring on Narcolepsy.

I have had this happen with a couple of horses, one a pony that did junior and then immediately after senior PC camp - when she got home she just fell over and collapsed.
Nothing really wrong with her (vet was actually there at the time) Left alone she slept for at least 2 hours without moving. Got up, peed, had a drink, pooped and went back down to sleep some more. Next day she was back to herself and never did it again.

The other was a hyper racehorse, he did much the same. He was so wound up being somewhere different (first time away from his home) he came to us to be broken and after about 10 days of box walking, being a total prat he collapsed and just slept for a short while before starting over again. He had stringent vet testing and after about 6 weeks he settled well and was sleeping as he should. I believe he did it when he first went into training and then settled never to do it again.