Headshaking

[ako]

[QUOTE=LauraKY;6783928]
A friend of mine with a headshaker finally called in an equine allergist. She started him on allergy shots and the headshaking is gone.[/QUOTE]

I was going to suggest looking into this, as well. I’m not a headshaking expert, but I’ve dealt with plenty of allergies (generally mine). Allergies can be managed - even potentially cured - with shots. It’s immunotherapy, so there’s no medication to cause side effects or make your horse nutty.

I’ve received shots for years and THEY WORK. I also gave my gelding shots for awhile and they really helped him in a short period of time. (Unlike decongestants which made him so hyper he was absolutely unrideable!)

Wetting the hay helps with allergies, as well.

[Ben_and_Me]

Just as a heads up for anyone showing – cyproheptadine is on the “forbidden drugs” list for the USEF.

[Horsezee]

[QUOTE=Ben and Me;6786044]
Just as a heads up for anyone showing – cyproheptadine is on the “forbidden drugs” list for the USEF.[/QUOTE]

So are all anitistimines and prescription medications such as Gabapentin used to treat HS.

[Horsezee]

[QUOTE=Ben and Me;6786044]
Just as a heads up for anyone showing – cyproheptadine is on the “forbidden drugs” list for the USEF.[/QUOTE]

Yes; so are all anithistamines (Chlor-Trimeton, Benedryl, Hydroxyzine ect).

Plus other prescription medications such as Gabapentin used to try to treat HS.

[ML]

[QUOTE=Ben and Me;6786044]
Just as a heads up for anyone showing – cyproheptadine is on the “forbidden drugs” list for the USEF.[/QUOTE]

so can we use the Chlorpheniramine Maleate.? or no go, cause it is so working with my head shaker?

[Horsezee]

[QUOTE=ML;6786811]
so can we use the Chlorpheniramine Maleate.? or no go, cause it is so working with my head shaker?[/QUOTE]

Nope. That is an anithistamine which is a Forbidden Substance.

Page 6

http://www.usef.org/issuu/flipbook.ashx?docname=drugsmedsguidelines2012&pdfurl=http://www.usef.org/documents/drugsMeds/DrugsMedsGuidelines2012.pdf

[Jersey_Fresh]

Just a quick update. I had the vet out again after a pretty bad head shaking episode on Sunday that included striking out while being ridden. He looked at my horse, then tacked him up, looked at his tack, lunged him and then i rode him. He thinks some of it is triggered by aggitaion (when he tried to get my horse worked up, it got worse). But at least this time my horse actually had mutliple “ticks” or head shakes while the vet was there. He palpated the trigenimal and noted that my horse is extremely sensetive on the left side of his face.

We started him on Fluphenazine today. He will get another shot in 2 weeks and I am supposed to keep a journal of what happens. Downside is he cant show on it. He also wants me to change how I ride him a bit-warm him up on a loose rein and ride him with less contact. He thinks some of this is two-fold-i have an extrememly reactive, senstive horse which can amplify episodes. he also wants me to try a rubber bit just to rule that out. He also suggested getting a bit hair scrunchyband to put around his nose under the noseband. He said he’s seen some horses improve with that. So we’ll see. I hope we figure something out because some days is severe enough I think about retiring him.

Next step will be injected the trigeminal nerve. Followed by another set of drugs (GABA something).

Right now is a waiting game.

[vxf111]

Not to bump up and OLD thread… but what was the eventual outcome for the horses mentioned on this thread?

[EmilyM]

We had one that had a sun allergy so she would shake her head in the sun. I believe she received some allergy shots for this which improved it.

[Ponyup50]

My mare suffers from it and I have kept a journal over the past two years. This is what I have learned:

Longer daylight hours aggravate the head shaking. Mid May through mid Sept once days get shorter. There were two symptoms, nasal drip (head flicking) and nasal snorting from irritants like air and pollen going up her nose. As daylight seems to be the trigger I keep her in a shaded stall with venilation during daylight hours. Important to keep her out of direct light.

I put her on Cypro to control the pain but it takes a few days and diff strengths to work. I coordinate this with my vet. Once controlled, I use a nose net riding in late evening as the increase in heart rate means more nasal air intake that probably feels like fire up her nose.

Grazing on grass or hay can cause increase in symptoms because of dust and pollen she is snorting up her nose thus irritating it. Grazing with nose net helped. Wetting hay helped.

I think it basically comes down to the nose nerves and controlling what irritates it. I feel your frustrations people!!!

[ParadoxFarm]

Very old thread. Ponyup 50, you may want to start a new thread over in horse care. Welcome.

[Jersey_Fresh]

Figured I would update since its my very old thread. My horse is now eventing, still goes in a nose net 2/3 phases and I have the headshaking very much under control. He rarely does it now even without the nosenet.

One of the biggest management changes was moving him home and out of the boarding barn he was at and firing my farrier. Both I think caused him to become anxious and trigger the headshaking.