Sleepy Horse

[GinaGem]

Hi, can anyone help me? My horse keeps falling asleep to the point i'm worried about her falling over. Her nose practically touches the floor, her eyes roll back and she has no awareness of anything going on around her. She then starts swaying and her legs buckle. I haven't seen her fall over but i am worried she will and i think this could be dangerous if she's in the stable. I've been told there is an article in a horse mag recently about this but haven't been able to get it.

Does anyone have any experience/tips about this?

I'm hoping to have a word with my vet today about it as it seems to be getting worse and more frequent.

I've got a video of it on photobucket if someone can tell me how to put it on here?

 

[kildalton]

Is she able to lie down? If she can't she won't be able to have a proper deep sleep. Will try and find the article for you. Good luck with the Vet.

 

[TGM]

The article was in last week's H&H - see if you can get a copy because it explains things much better than I can in a post! It is all about narcolepsy, pseudo-narcolepsy etc. Unfortunately it is not on the H&H main site. If you can't get a copy I could trying scanning it in for you.

 

[GinaGem]

Yes she does lay down - she has a foaling stable as she used to get cast so she has plenty of room and i know she lays down some nights as she has shavings in her tail. She also occassionally lays down in the field.

 

[GinaGem]

oh great thanks i will try and get a copy if not i will let you know. I've called the vet and someone is getting back to me so i shall see what they say. I'm watching her out the window and she keeps doing it in the field - bit worrying!!!

 

[Happy Horse]

How long has she been doing it and is she normal in between episodes?

 

[JoBo]

From watching the video and seeing her myself (and with the fact she isn’t so stable in the trailer as she use to be), I am a bit concerned about her too. I have never seen a horse behave like that before, in the summer she almost feel over with her tack on.

I’ll just add that she is 14 coming up 15. This has started happening mainly in the last year, would you agree Gina?

Have you spoken to the vets yet Gina?

 

[GinaGem]

I've first noticed it early summer but lately it has worried me more as i have seen her doing it more. I can't say whether she did it before but just when no-one was around

 

[JoBo]

 

[GinaGem]

Between doing it she is normal. She looks a bit sleepy after but tends to carry on eating or falls asleep again. She's fine to ride etc although she is very moody to handle sometimes which someone has just suggested to me could be beacause she isn't getting enough sleep lying down?!

 

[GinaGem]

No vet hasn't called me back yet! Usual vet is doing some cattle thing for the week so i'm not sure who i'm going to get

 

[the watcher]

You do need the vet, although not urgent as in right at this minute. I have seen this before and IF the same thing has resulted in a total loss of use, but the gelding concerned has been quite happy retired out in a paddock for the last 2 years

 

[Tempi]

im going to be absolutly no help at all as i know nothing about this, but i watched that video and it really scared me - id definately be calling the vet out straight away if my horse was doing that..............i know you say you are contacting your vet which is good!!!! She looks like Bloss looks when shes sedated for clipping

 

[JoBo]

So you can see why we are a little concerned, thanks for answering!

 

[Henmen]

Id be chasing that vet up!! Id be worrid sick my mare did that!!

 

[GinaGem]

That is exactly what it reminds me of - a sedated horse!

 

[Sooty]

Has she changed her grazing or hay at all? I am wondering if she has eaten some sort of poison. Hopefully vet will be able to diagnose, it is very worrying for you.

 

[Dogbetty141]

very scary on the vud get the vet to get there asap

 

[GinaGem]

No she has lived here for about 11 years on the same grazing. We use the same supplier for hay as always (always cut from the same field). She's been on the same food for months (alfa a oil and oats). It has been suggested that she may be deficient in minerals etc?

 

[Agent XXX999]

Right. I am going to say this and I am sorry for saying it but you did ask for opinions so here goes…SORRY SORRY SORRY

IMO she looks like she has got something seriously neurologically wrong. This could be any number of things, but the immediate thing that comes to minds is some sort of growth on her brain which is either reducing blood supply or pressurising her on the part that makes her tired. I would be very, very concerned. The action is completely un horse like and she looks like it is very much out of control.

I would not be riding her, and I would make your vet come out as a priority. It is imperative that she gets seen.

 

[pottamus]

My first thoughts were something poisonous that she had eaten too...you really do need that vet out as that clip was quite scary. How is she to ride...if you do...does she have balance problems?
Hope all goes well and please let us know how you get on...

 

[wizzi901]

I noticed someone mention its mainly over "the past year" these episodes have occurred?

Forgive me if I speak out of turn but do you mean you have NEVER before now contacted your vet about it?

Personally I would not ride her at all, I would ask your vet to come out today!

I dont want to speculate as to what may cause it as I am not a vet and certainly not qualified to do so.

It must be heatbreaking for you to see her like that but main priority is to get a vet to her asap.

 

[GinaGem]

Don't be sorry - i wanted opinions on what to do and i'm definately getting the vet out. I will let you know what happens

 

[GinaGem]

It's been going on since the summer but it hasn't happened for a while and this is the worst i have seen it which is why i put the post on. She's very perky when ridden, it's only at rest she has a problem.

 

[Henmen]

Thats what i wanted to say, but didnt feel qualified enough to say it.

Dont ride her for gods sake.

 

[wizzi901]

It could be something minor or major you wont know until the vet comes out, so dont panic just yet!!

Good luck and do let us know how you get on.

 

[Tangaroo]

If she only does it at rest it wont necessarily be a problem. If it is pseudo narcolepsy they wont do it when ridden due to the adrenalin and being active. My boy suffers from this and he had to have his heart checked when we discovered he was doing it. His heart is fine and he competes every weekend and events all summer!! We just have to wrap his legs up well in case he falls over when dozing. Please dont be panic stricken by all the threads on here, although everyone is trying to be helpful they are also putting the fear of god into you. It may be that your horse will carry on living a very active life without a problem.Wait till the vet has been , he will be able to enlighten you more. My vet isnt at all concerned about my boy, it is just one of his quirks. Hope it works out ok for you.

 

[LauraBR]

I used to know a pony who does something very similar, although I don't think it has ever seen vet, they just seem to carry on with it as normal (not the most experienced owners in the world, nor the quickest to seek help when things go wrong

)

I remember trying to do some research at the time and it did look/sound a lot like a milder form narcolepsy. Also remember reading an article in one of the magazines ages ago about an eventer who had the full blown drop to the floor asleep narcolepsy who managed to carry on competing- they managed to identify triggers and simply avoided them.

Stay positive

Good luck with the vet x

 

[GinaGem]

Thank you everyone - i'm still trying to get a vet, they don't seem overly concerned at the moment!

 

[Tangaroo]

LIke i said, dont panic, a day or so wont make a difference and they might tell you to carry on as normal anyway.