My poor boy!

[Janah]

This time last year my boy was headshaking very badly. Eventually after x rays vet visit with dentist problem resolved. Turned out to be chip of tooth left in after extraction. This took 3 months to resolve.

Started getting boy fit to ride again, he had had time off previously because of injury to me, not horse related. Took him slowly and steadily as started barefoot and he was 21 yrs old.

Fast forward to Sept, did annular ligament. vet recommended 6 weeks box rest. No change. Vet recommended box rest 'til spring. Largish yard to wander about on.

This Jan vet advised walking out for 5 mins a day gradually working up and short trots after 1 month. At same visit got booster jabs done, teeth check, willy check (sorry about that bit).

The day the vet attended I noticed a head shake, mentioned to vet who said fighting the sedation, which was done to check his willy as hadn't seen the 'offending member' for some time, which is so not like him!

Since then he has been headshaking more and more.

I am gutted for him, one thing after the other.

I am going to call the vet but wondering if stress could cause headshaking?

Impressed if you have read this far!
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[Box_Of_Frogs]

I suspect the tooth chip wasn't the sole reason for your lad's headshaking and it's just started up again.

 

[NaeNae87]

It could be soft tissue trauma. Has he ever had a bad pull back injury? Spooked in the float and/or jerked his neck around a bit?
Another cause of head shaking is tight Brachiocephallic/Omotranseverse/Clidobrachail muscles. If they are tight then pain can spread not only from the neck, but down to the pectoral muscles, as well as the Latissimus Dorsi, Rhomboid and Trapezius.

Have you had a massage therapist look at him? Bowen/Equissage/Physio etc?