PTS due to Headshaking-wwyd?

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Testy

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My gelding started headshaking last April, his main trigger is rain although cold wind, snow and pollen can sometimes set him off as well.
I've tried a whole host of supplements, salt in his feed, he has his teeth done regularly. He's been to liphook and been scoped, xrayed, trigeminal nerve blocked (which didn't work), eyes checked etc etc, everything was normal. My vet gave him 6 sessions of acupuncture which has made no difference.
I don't know what to do with him, I'm starting to wonder whether it's fair to keep him going if he's headshaking and in pain even whilst in his field and nothing seems to be helping. He's fine whilst his head's down and he's grazing but if he lifts his head or moves about he starts again. He's fine in his stable unless he puts his head over the door on a rainy day.
My vet wants to try him on steroids, but at a cost of £100 for 2 weeks supply, this isn't something I'd be able to fund once my insurance claim runs out.
He did randomly stop for a couple of weeks recently-I have no idea why or how, but he's back to normal now so any opinions or ideas welcome.
 
Friend had a headshaker, cut out all hard feed and it stopped, this was after having saddle checked, vet etc. I can't remember what was the problem feed in particular though. I assume you have also tried antihistamines and if u r on livery I would also try as a last resort moving yards in case it is environmental. Also change hay supply
 
Know this may seem bizarre......... and you'll probably need a vet to do it thoroughly, but PLEASE check inside his ears.

A friend of a friend told me a story a good few years ago now, about a pony that was going crazy shaking its head. They'd looked at everything, X-rays, the lot, and then decided the only option was to PTS as it was headshaking all the time, day and night, ridden or not ridden, inside or out.

Because they wanted to know what had caused the problem, they did a PM. And found, right down INSIDE the pony's ear.......... a sweet wrapper, like the one's you'd get on a box of Quality Street. They had a toddler at the time who was apparently prone to doing this, they'd caught it trying to push down a sweet wrapper in the family dog's ears :(

So, I just mention this......... it just could be something SO simple. Hopefully so.
 
A nosenet helps if it's a dry day, no difference at all in the rain though, he's pretty much unrideable.
We moved yards 6 weeks ago, from surrey to devon, so different haylege. He stopped about a week before the move and started again a couple of weeks ago.
The vet at liphook advised to cut all cereal out of his diet and feed just fibre which I've also done with no change.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
A friend of a friend told me a story a good few years ago now, about a pony that was going crazy shaking its head. They'd looked at everything, X-rays, the lot, and then decided the only option was to PTS as it was headshaking all the time, day and night, ridden or not ridden, inside or out.
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I've also heard of this poor pony and I must admit it's always my first thought with head shakers now. Best to check, OP.
 
Have you tried antihistamines? I have a headshaker who used to be particularly bad, but has now stopped (I have no idea why she has stopped!). Hers started after quite invasive sinus surgery. My horse used to be appalling in the rain - she would do anything not to go out in the rain, but now seems much better. I have changed her from haylage last year, to hay this year, so whether that has made a difference, I have no idea. Good luck - I hope you can find an answer.
 
Have you had allergy testing done? I only ask as mine had/has upper respiratory inflammation which causes a head twitch (wouldn't have called her a head shaker, but definitely could have developed into one) and we couldn't get to the bottom of it. As a last ditch as the insurance was running out we had an allergy test done via a blood test. She came out as allergic to multiple grass pollens & is now on inhaled steroids at a cost of £30/mth & fingers crossed its working. I know mines not a true headshaker, but she definitely has the potential to be one.

Good luck with your boy, I hope you can find a solution.
 
Thanks for all your replies.
I tried antihistimines last summer with no difference unfortunately.
The vet checked his ears and I assume anything in there would have been picked up from his X-rays, I have the vet coming on weds so I'll ask for them to be checked again.
My vet thinks it is a trigeminal neuralgia type problem even though he didn't respond to the nerve block. I'm starting to feel a bit desperate, it's hard watching him when he's bad.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Know this may seem bizarre......... and you'll probably need a vet to do it thoroughly, but PLEASE check inside his ears.

A friend of a friend told me a story a good few years ago now, about a pony that was going crazy shaking its head. They'd looked at everything, X-rays, the lot, and then decided the only option was to PTS as it was headshaking all the time, day and night, ridden or not ridden, inside or out.

Because they wanted to know what had caused the problem, they did a PM. And found, right down INSIDE the pony's ear.......... a sweet wrapper, like the one's you'd get on a box of Quality Street. They had a toddler at the time who was apparently prone to doing this, they'd caught it trying to push down a sweet wrapper in the family dog's ears :(

So, I just mention this......... it just could be something SO simple. Hopefully so.
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I once read a letter in a horse mag about a headshaker that had been pts and the PM found a grass seed deep in the ear.
 
I think that it's worth considering that trigeminal nerve pain can be excruciating. I think in your shoes I'd give the steroids a try and see if they help, then make any decisions once the insurance has run out.
 
touchstone said:
I think that it's worth considering that trigeminal nerve pain can be excruciating. I think in your shoes I'd give the steroids a try and see if they help, then make any decisions once the insurance has run out.
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Second about the pain my vet told me that a high percentage of human suffers commit suicide .
I am so sorry for you OP it's a horrible horrible thing .
I would put on the steriods until the insurance runs out and then reassess .
 
Thanks. Yeah I've read how painful it can be and it breaks my heart.
I'll definitely get his ears thoroughly checked again and try the steroids. I'll probably get him allergy tested too.
 
Testy said:
Thanks for all your replies.
I tried antihistimines last summer with no difference unfortunately.
The vet checked his ears and I assume anything in there would have been picked up from his X-rays, I have the vet coming on weds so I'll ask for them to be checked again.
My vet thinks it is a trigeminal neuralgia type problem even though he didn't respond to the nerve block. I'm starting to feel a bit desperate, it's hard watching him when he's bad.
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Hmmm, if it is then I believe in severe cases in humans they can perform surgery. I assume they cut the nerve to stop the pain. I have no idea if this would be possible in a horse/if there is such a surgery in horses or even if the vets would consider it but I would ask if there is a possibility of exploring it.
 
maccachic said:
The one I had only did it in spring and when removed from grass symptoms disappeared.
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When you say removed from grass symptoms- how? Did the horse live in? Interested as we had one with a grass/ pollen allergy and she was eventually pts, not a head shaker but asthmatic symptoms and I was totally unable to remove her from the allergen. She was as bad in as out.
I swear I felt her relief as she went so yes if all other ideas are exhausted I would pts.
 
Queenbee said:
Hmmm, if it is then I believe in severe cases in humans they can perform surgery. I assume they cut the nerve to stop the pain. I have no idea if this would be possible in a horse/if there is such a surgery in horses or even if the vets would consider it but I would ask if there is a possibility of exploring it.
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Thank you, yes there is an operation to insert coils into the nerve, it's got a poor success rate and it's supposed to be a difficult/painful recovery, so not something I would consider putting him through
 
I have know several headshakers, all for very different reasons, physio worked for one as it was due to tension but yours does not sound like that, of the more recent ones one was trigeminal but due to tooth pain, food getting trapped in diastemas putting pressure on the nerves, vets missed it for over a year as felt it could not be causing the problem, it was sorted but long term there was no cure, he was pts.
The other, who I now own, has recently had treatment on the jaw and poll by an osteo, this has helped immensely as it seems to be worse when he gets tense, starts shaking then makes himself more tense and sore.

As yours did not respond to blocking the nerve the op is unlikely to help, it would be worth trying an osteo as the next step as mine has really helped, she told me how he behaved before I gave her the history and was spot on.

Just to add, have you tried a bute trial, it helped mine and the shaking stops.
 
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My friend has her horse put to sleep due to head shaking several years ago. At his worst he ran into a tree whilst she was riding.
We took him up to Liverpool and he spent 3 days being studied / examined by Derek Knottenbelt. It was a fascinating few days but sadly nothing could be done. He said there are 1001 reasons as to why horses head shake.
Very frustrating illness, sadly Lager (yes that was his name !) was pts at the age of 5.
Hope you find a satisfactory outcome OP
 
Ginger Bear said:
I'd contact vet Donna Blinman if you want a last attempt at getting him right. I'm not sure where you are based..
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My friend uses her and was very impressed with how she works and got great results with her horse who numerous bets had failed to diagnose. She did some TMJ work on the horse as well.
 
Testy said:
My gelding started headshaking last April, his main trigger is rain although cold wind, snow and pollen can sometimes set him off as well.
I've tried a whole host of supplements, salt in his feed, he has his teeth done regularly. He's been to liphook and been scoped, xrayed, trigeminal nerve blocked (which didn't work), eyes checked etc etc, everything was normal. My vet gave him 6 sessions of acupuncture which has made no difference.
I don't know what to do with him, I'm starting to wonder whether it's fair to keep him going if he's headshaking and in pain even whilst in his field and nothing seems to be helping. He's fine whilst his head's down and he's grazing but if he lifts his head or moves about he starts again. He's fine in his stable unless he puts his head over the door on a rainy day.
My vet wants to try him on steroids, but at a cost of £100 for 2 weeks supply, this isn't something I'd be able to fund once my insurance claim runs out.
He did randomly stop for a couple of weeks recently-I have no idea why or how, but he's back to normal now so any opinions or ideas welcome.
Click to expand...

There is a lot on headshaking here>>>>http://horse-care-and-advice.weebly.com/h.html
 
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