Looking for feedback from those who have experienced horse with facial (nerve) paralysis after full sedation.Approximately 2 weeks ago, Young horse recently was treated for a serious hood bulb laceration, was down on ground for approx 25 minutes, head was on a heavy towel cushion, no head thrashing or trauma. The facial paralysis developed ovef following 24 hours. Treated with steroids, DMSO and massage. Minimal improvement, lower lip still hangs on one side.
First of all, I’m so sorry to hear this.
I have heard of this through a friend who sold her horse to the US, he was 6 at the time. He had the whole left side of his face paralyzed (from lip, nostril, eye, all the way up to a droopy ear) from sedation after he coliced (they tubed him as well as collapsed his trachea - it was a mess) at a show. I believe the paralysis was right away though, not a day afterwards. He was not on the ground but he had the face paralysis for at least a year that I know of, it not longer - (they started treatment after 1 year). They did a lot of treatment, including treadmill since one of his lungs was effected as well (he was a high $ horse in the 6 digits and was a big jumper, so needed to be able full use of nostrils and lungs of course). I believe they had to retire him from the big sticks, and he roared afterwards as well and never regained the use of his nostril even after treatment so breathing was an issue.
I don’t know if this is the usual though, and I don’t want to scare you. I’m hoping others have better outcomes and post on here. This is the only case that I have heard of, but I’m not in huge circles so others may chime in.
Jingles to your guy.
I had a mare that had surgery for roaring and afterwards, she had similar facial paralysis. Her left side was slack, and her lip drooped. Surgeon thought it happened in turning her and was not terribly concerned, just said it would be back to normal before I was back riding her (so several months IIRC). It did improve by then but not totally normal as the lip still drooped but with a bit in, you didn’t see it, and she didn’t have any related mouth issues. I’d say it was more like 6 months to a year before it was totally “normal.” But she did recover and there was no specific treatment besides time.
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I know of one horse that developed facial paralysis following anesthesia to deal with a gelding complication. It took about 6 months for it to mostly resolve. I don’t remember if it resolved completely but the deficits were quite small if it didn’t. Sorry, it was quite awhile ago.
Susan
Acupuncture may also help.
My clydesdale had some facial paralysis after being down for quite a while (she needed an MRI of a leg and subsequent surgery. Being a big goofy draft she didn’t fit into the padded head bumper they usually wear. She had a droopy lip for a few days which got better each day and she noticeably deviated to one side when she would quest for food with her top lip. I would say she completely resolved all noticeable signs over maybe 3 weeks? Her paralysis was rather minor, all things considered.
