Trigeminal-mediated headshaking in horses: prevalence, impact, and management strategies
Trigeminal-mediated headshaking in horses: prevalence, impact, and management strategies
our summary:
Roberts, V. (2019) Trigeminal-mediated headshaking in horses: prevalence, impact, and management strategies. Veterinary Medicine: Research and Reports, 2019:10, pp. 1-8
This review article considers the literature on trigeminal-mediated headshaking, focusing on what is known, and not known, about the prevalence of the condition and its impact.
The author summarises the clinical signs which include predominantly vertical headshaking which may be violent. Head shaking is often accompanied by flicks or jerks of the head and signs of nasal irritation. Typically signs are worse in horses at exercise and show some seasonality with the majority of horses being affected in the Spring/Summer.
Information is then given on the:
Prevalence
- approximately 2% of UK horses could be suffering from the condition
- the condition usually first appears in adult horses, with median ages of onset ranging from 6-10 years
- geldings represent between 63 -71.5 % of reported cases
- all breeds appear susceptible to the condition
Impact
- there are both welfare and economic implications for the horse and owner if the condition causes the horse such pain that it has to be retired or euthanised
Management strategies with reported success include:
- nose nets
- pharmaceuticals including gabapentin and carbamazepine (anti-convulsants that are used in humans for neuropathic pain) and cromoglycate eye drops
- surgery involving bilateral infraorbital neurectomy or caudal ablation of the infraorbital nerve
- alternative therapies such as electroacupuncture, EquiPENSTM neuromodulation, and homeopathy.
Treatment options that reportedly lack efficacy for managing headshaking in horses are also described.
Trigeminal-mediated headshaking in horses is a painful facial neuropathic condition with welfare and economic implications for the horse and their owner. The condition is a challenge to diagnose correctly, as aetiology of the condition remains unknown. This article provides practitioners with a readily accessible overview of the published literature, as well as current best practice and its limitations. The author recommends a thorough investigation to be as sure as possible of diagnosis, followed by logical trials of published treatments.
Image copyright attribute: Valeriy Lebedev
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