Panniculus reflex (the ‘I’ve got a fly on me’ twitch)

[BBP]

Does anyone know what it means if this is absent? I know it’s a neurological test, but I’m trying to understand the science of it.

 

[tyner]

It's often used in tests for wobblers. The lack of response can indicate nerve damage. But as all individuals are unique, it's not always a clear sign and horses can react differently. It shouldn't be used in isolation of other tests.

 

[BBP]

It's often used in tests for wobblers. The lack of response can indicate nerve damage. But as all individuals are unique, it's not always a clear sign and horses can react differently. It shouldn't be used in isolation of other tests.

Thank you. That’s about my level of understanding. I’m trying to find some diagrams that show the innervation at the moment to see if I can learn a bit more about what information it gives. We will run the full set of tests.

 

[BBP]

I know some horses can become desensitised to the menace reflex and won’t blink as they know you are being an idiot human wafting around near the eye, I wonder if they can become the same with the panniculus and think ‘ah it’s just my human tickling me with a piece of hay’.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

https://vmerc.uga.edu/CranialNerves/ctrrr.html

The diagram here is fairly understandable.

usually you’d gently pinch the skin, it tests skin surface sensation (as apposed to deep pain sensation). But yes, if you do it enough times close together there will be some element of desensitisation, plus some horses are simply more sensitive than others.

it’s not the most reliable test, but it can be useful to localise a lesion where you’re already suspicious of a problem.

 

[BBP]

https://vmerc.uga.edu/CranialNerves/ctrrr.html

The diagram here is fairly understandable.

usually you’d gently pinch the skin, it tests skin surface sensation (as apposed to deep pain sensation). But yes, if you do it enough times close together there will be some element of desensitisation, plus some horses are simply more sensitive than others.

it’s not the most reliable test, but it can be useful to localise a lesion where you’re already suspicious of a problem.

Ah that’s brilliant, thank you. The horse seems to have absolutely zero twitch compared to the others I tested. Tail pull was tricky to judge as a non-vet, I could pull him well across on the first few pulls but after a few goes he was able to brace up. Tail is mobile (no not completely limp) but soft without a response to touching the underside. But he knows where his legs are on the placement tests. All a bit inconclusive really (I’ve done the same 2 years ago and had the vets out and they weren’t too worried by any of it, they did X-ray neck and back at my insistence and nothing notable, but chronic damage to ligaments in thoracic spine I think they said. He had improved a lot in terms of tail tone and tail pull strength but over the last month seems to have reverted back and I’m not sure why.