Sleepy Horse

[AmyMay]

This is one of the things that Freddy started doing in the months leading up to me having him pts. A full array of tests were done on him, and nothing found. Looking back it probably was a form of narcolepsy - but I'm not sure.

My worry, like you, was that he would go down in the stable and do himself some serious damage (he wasn't ridden so no danger to rider). He used to go right down in the field.

Speak to your vet, because there could be some underlying and treatable cause. However for my horse it was just another nail in the coffin so to speak.

 

[archoak]

I wondered if Molly had a neurological problem when she fell in her trailer and couldn't balance in it after that, but our vet said neurological problems would show all the time ie when a horse is walking, being ridden etc so don't panic.

 

[Agent XXX999]

Not strictly true…

I really didn’t want to worry you GinaGem. Xxx I want to give you a hug!

 

[jenbleep]

LOOKS LIKE NARCALEPSY, A HORSE AT COLLEGE HAD IT. HE WAS ALRIGHT RIDDEN, BUT IF YOU KEPT HIM TIED UP FOR TOO LONG HE'D FALL ASLEEP! SORRY I CAN'T BE MUCH HELP BUT I THINK YOU WILL BE ABLE TO CONTROL IT WITH THE HELP OF YOU VET

GOOD LUCK KEEP US INFORMED!
JENXX

 

[GTs]

[ QUOTE ]
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.

[/ QUOTE ]

I love the diagnosis capabilities of HHO members - 'it could well be her pajamas are not comfy so she can not get a proper night sleep.'

However saying that there could be some truth in a nuerologic problem as in siezures (which would not be present all the time - to the person who said their vet said it had to be - he was refering to a constant state of unbalance). My friends horse had a couple seizures after a trailer accident, and she was unbalanced with her eyes rolled in the back of her head. But your horse seemed to stop as soon as it looked like she was going to fall over does make me scratch my head though.

I would definitely not ride this horse - I think it is very unfair to ride a sick horse, and very dangerous too. I would call the vet and get him out over the next week.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

I don't think "A word with you vet" is enough. You need him out to see her pronto. There is something seriously wrong with her. Having seen the video you must get a vet to check her out & probably do tests, take blood etc. Someone mentioned it's like she's been sedated, exactly right. I would be incredibly worried if she were mine.

 

[Niamhy]

Looked at the Video and LMAO SNAP!!!

Murph does the very same thing. He does it if he is dozing or sleeping. Exactly the same. He is worse if its very warm, and hes standing around doing nothing.

Someone on heres instructor did a piece on it in HORSE mag, and I emailed them and we chatted, they reckoned the symptoms were the same as narcolepsy. If you do a search you may find it, I think my post was in the new lounge.

Anywho, as a strange aside, I have never seen my horse lie down. Ever! He also travels no problem at all, and Ive had him nearly 3 years now.

Ps. First time you see this, it can seem really really scary, but Im soo used to it now, I dont pass any remarks on it!

ETA: Found my post on it!

Click here

 

[TGM]

[ QUOTE ]
Anywho, as a strange aside, I have never seen my horse lie down. Ever!

[/ QUOTE ] I suspect your boy has pseudo-narcolepsy like my mare, which is less worrying than straightforward narcolepsy, as they only do it when they are relaxing and dozing anyway. I think with normal narcolepsy they can doze off at any time, even when being ridden, although sometimes there are certain things that trigger it.

I hope that Gina's mare turns out to have pseudo-narcolepsy rather than anything more serious.

 

[GinaGem]

Yes she always wakes herself up when the legs buckle or something startles her

I am not planning to ride her until i can get her checked out but as i said earlier when ridden especially lately she has been quite lively

 

[JACQSZOO]

My old lady used to do this, usually when tied in the yard. She appeared to literally fall asleep. The vet looked her over and pronounced her fit and diagnosed pseudo-narcolepsy and advised me that it would be extremely unlikely during ridden work. I had owned her since she was 4 and I only noticed her starting to do it when she was about 16. She never ever did it under saddle.

 

[TGM]

[ QUOTE ]

I love the diagnosis capabilities of HHO members - 'it could well be her pajamas are not comfy so she can not get a proper night sleep.'

[/ QUOTE ] You may laugh GTs, but no far from what a respected vet considers to be the cause of pseudo-narcolepsy. I quote:

"Normally horses manage to sleep very effectively on their feet due to the amazing anatomical design that locks their limbs. Most healthy horses also lie down at least once a day to obtain proper rest in deep sleep. If a horse is unwilling or unable to lie down due to various factors, such as inadequate bedding, bullying by other horses or chronic pain that prevents his limbs bending properly, then he will fall asleep standing simply due to fatigue." Karen Coumbe, MRCVS, Horse & Hound, 16 Nov

But agree that Gina needs to get a firm diagnosis from her vet and not ride the horse in the meantime.

 

[Happy Horse]

GTs is the king of online diagnosis don't you know!

 

[GTs]

There is a difference - she stated that a horse who can not sleep properly will have that problem, which is an aspect I did not venture into. I merely stated a reason for a horse not sleeping well.

Very interesting blurb though......

 

[SirenaXVI]

Sorry but this is screaming narcolepsy to me

I would get the vet out for a diagnosis asap

 

[TGM]

Well some horses are very fussy - they will not lie down and sleep unless they have the right type of pyjamas

.

 

[Mid]

My friend's pony had something very like this... Narcolepsy (sp?) and had to be put to sleep

Call the vet immeadiately!

 

[GTs]

[ QUOTE ]
Well some horses are very fussy - they will not lie down and sleep unless they have the right type of pyjamas

.

[/ QUOTE ]

My horses liked to sleep naked - GOOD WOMEN.

 

[TGM]

[ QUOTE ]
My horses liked to sleep naked - GOOD WOMEN.

[/ QUOTE ] Well mine sleep in their macs!

(Sorry Gina for the thread hijack

)

 

[brighteyes]

Is it a coincidence (and absolutely no disrespect to OP or the replies) that narcolepsy was in H&H last week? We have already had a post on it and I wondered if veterinary articles in the Great Magazine precipitate outbreaks of the 'topical' condition????? I am sure this has happened before with at least one other horse ailment. I am dreading the darned thing in case my horse gets the disease of the week. Ah, now I remember - CUSHING's.....!

 

[TGM]

Well as Gina hadn't seen the article when she posted this question then I doubt it prompted her post! I have now scanned the article and sent it to her, though.

 

[JoBo]

Oh pee off! If you can’t say anything of importance don’t say anything at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[archoak]

[ QUOTE ]
Not strictly true…

I'll ring the RVC and let them know then

 

[brighteyes]

Wasn't suggesting it did - just remarking on the coincidence and feeling very glad that this time it isn't me! I have had a sinkful this summer and am keeping everything crossed for all of us. The forum is THE PLACE to get help and that's why I visit. Gets a bit heavy sometimes, though...

 

[MagicMelon]

Equine Narcolepsy? One of Tim Stockdales horses has it - it falls asleep sometimes and falls flat so Ive heard. But it can still compete as I believe when its concentrating its ok.

Id get the vet out straight away - why haven't you yet?? You know its out of character and its getting worse. Keep trying to video her when she's like this so you can show the vet (in case they dont see her doing it).

Id be very worried to be honest. Although Equine Narcolepsy isnt necessarily a death sentence by any means but you must be made aware of it so you can try to stop her hurting herself.

SORRY JUST READ OTHER POSTS AND SEEN THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN BROUGHT UP! By the way, why are some of you being so damn rude talking about pyjamas etc. - this could be a very serious problem which the owner is obviously worried about.

 

[Malibu]

I have followed this post all day and i agree that you should get the vet out asap if not already done so. I wish you all the luck and that it is not too serious. From what i have read - this coudl be serious and i agree with magic melon that this is not the time to be making silly jokes , you know who you are!!! There is a time for that and that is not know!

 

[TGM]

[ QUOTE ]
By the way, why are some of you being so damn rude talking about pyjamas etc. - this could be a very serious problem which the owner is obviously worried about.

[/ QUOTE ] Which is why I have already scanned and PM'd Gina a copy of the relevant article from H&H. Just because I made a flippant retort to GT's post, doesn't mean I don't care about Gem's predicament.

 

[MagicMelon]

You should simply ignore GT. You know he can make stupid comments occassionally, and this is not the place or time for them! Im not saying you dont care about Gems problem, but surely you understand its not the place for childish remarks abour horsey pajamas..... Thats all Im saying. I do not want to start a fight on here as again, this isnt the place for that either!!

 

[TGM]

[ QUOTE ]
You should simply ignore GT.

[/ QUOTE ] Actually I find the best way to deal with him is to play him at his own game - which is exactly what I did!

I think you would be better off having a go at the person who suggested Gina was making the horse's problem up because the condition was mentioned in H&H this week

!

I constantly offer constructive help and advice to people on this forum, including yourself on regular occasions and have just spent valuable time looking for info for you re: chasteberry, so I resent being told that I don't take people's problems seriously

.

 

[JoBo]

I apologise to brighteyes for taking her post the wrong way, as you can imagine I’m a little sensitive about it all.

I will leave Gina to give you further updates when she is back on tomorrow!

 

[GTs]

I think it is clear before the thread even started to turn the consensus was exactly what you said - so really think you having a go is pretty petty! Maybe you want a vanilla world, others of us are slightly more dynamic!