Vet practices specialising in headshaking?

[asbocob]

Hi,
I'm looking for recommendations for a vet practice with specialist experience in headshaking please, ideally within reasonable travelling distance of Staffordshire. I've got a horse who has had extensive investigations into problems with headshaking that have yielded no results and my vets when I spoke to them previously were at a bit of a loss as to what to try next. I am currently waiting for another phone call to discuss options but I think a fresh set of eyes could be really helpful. I've seen B&W Equine consult with Dr. Veronica Roberts who, from what I've researched, is a world leading expert on the subject so any experience with them would be great. I understand it is a very complex issue which can vary hugely horse to horse however I'd like to give mine the absolute best chance possible. Thanks all!

 

[TheMule]

Veronica is brilliant, get her if you can

 

[Barton Bounty]

I cannot give you any recommendations for a vet but I did have a horse that was a head shaker and it turned out to be a sacroiliac injury. Just a thought in case you have not yet ventured down that avenue

 

[Ossy2]

Mine saw Derek Knottenbelt at leahurst vet school but I have a feeling he is not there anymore. Not sure if there’s a successor there.

 

[asbocob]

Mine saw Derek Knottenbelt at leahurst vet school but I have a feeling he is not there anymore. Not sure if there’s a successor there.

Professor Knottenbelt oversaw my horses sarcoid treatment but I don’t think he was contacted in regards to the headshaking. Will have to have a read of the clinical history and check.

 

[Birker2020]

Hi,
I'm looking for recommendations for a vet practice with specialist experience in headshaking please, ideally within reasonable travelling distance of Staffordshire. I've got a horse who has had extensive investigations into problems with headshaking that have yielded no results and my vets when I spoke to them previously were at a bit of a loss as to what to try next. I am currently waiting for another phone call to discuss options but I think a fresh set of eyes could be really helpful. I've seen B&W Equine consult with Dr. Veronica Roberts who, from what I've researched, is a world leading expert on the subject so any experience with them would be great. I understand it is a very complex issue which can vary hugely horse to horse however I'd like to give mine the absolute best chance possible. Thanks all!

Thread 'Update on headshaking 4yo - looks a little neurological' https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/...aking-4yo-looks-a-little-neurological.824041/

 

[skint1]

My daughter's horse was treated under B&W by Veronica- an excellent vet and one of the few experts in neurological headshaking. Definitely try and get her.

 

[asbocob]

My daughter's horse was treated under B&W by Veronica- an excellent vet and one of the few experts in neurological headshaking. Definitely try and get her.

If you don’t mind me asking, did your own vets refer you or did you contact B&W directly please? I’m going to give them a call in the morning as I’ve seen they do an investigations package for a set price however I think I’d need something more tailored as most of the diagnostics have already been done, albeit a while ago.

 

[Jinx94]

I can see Birker2020 linked the thread about my then 4yo.

We went to see Veronica last year and she was fantastic, very thorough and very open to/keen to hear the information that I had. We did a few different diagnostics, including a neurological work up and a CT myelogram. My vets had already done a complete set of head and neck xrays as well as a careful dental exam and a scope. The intention of the scope was to rule out any obstructions/injuries, but we were also able to say with a fair bit of confidence that it was not allergy related.

B&W absolutely tailor everything to the individual, and I'm sure Veronica would be keen to build on previous findings rather than waste time and money on diagnostics that have previously been used (depending on how long ago, quality of any imaging etc).

 

[skint1]

If you don’t mind me asking, did your own vets refer you or did you contact B&W directly please? I’m going to give them a call in the morning as I’ve seen they do an investigations package for a set price however I think I’d need something more tailored as most of the diagnostics have already been done, albeit a while ago.

My daughter's vet referred her horse to B&W for scans/scopes and then the treatments, Veronica took up the case working with the referring vets- should say that like Jinx, many other tests had already been done to rule out things. It seemed to me it was more a case of ruling out every other possibility and then trying to treat the neurological issue for which there are very limited options with very guarded outcomes

 

[Highmileagecob]

Equibiome have tailored a test specifically towards headshakers. I'm afraid I don't know anything about it, an advert for it turned up in my inbox following a standard Equibiome gut analysis.

 

[Cates123]

I don't have any personal experience with this but I read a fascinating article about chronic head shaking and pain in a horse which turned out to be connected to the fact they shaved his whiskers for showing. Thought it was worthwhile flagging in case you shave your horse's muzzle.