Presenting Concern:
Big Red’s rider had become frustrated with his headshaking. Big Red was diagnosed with head shakers syndrome years ago and was typically well managed on cyproheptadine. Despite meds, his symptoms would ramp up as allergy season approached. He became unrideable after nose nets and fly masks no longer provided him with relief.
Highlights of Clinical Findings:
- During allergy season, Big Red would begin to chew strangely. He would occasionally leave most of his food.
- Big Red developed clinical symptoms of gastric ulcers during allergy seasons.
Diagnostics / Rule Outs:
- Big Red had his teeth floated annually with no significant findings on oral examination.
- Big Red had his TM joints injected in an attempt to relieve some of his discomfort
- Big Red’s owner had consistent chiropractic care done to keep him comfortable. He would improve and then regress 1-2 weeks following chiropractic. NOTHING HELPED.
Treatments:
Dr. Ashman learned of a technique (coined by Dr. Audrey DeClue) using extracorporeal shockwave therapy to improve the lives of head shakers. She called Big Red’s owner and told her about the discovery. The owner was ready to jump in, knowing that resolution of head shaking was very unlikely. After all, he had been head shaking for years. Big Red was treated with several sessions of shockwave therapy and chiropractic care was continued.
Results:
Big Red started to improve following his first treatment. The frequency of headshaking decreased slowly over the next several visits. Once we completed the treatments, Big Red was slowly weaned off his meds. He did great for nearly an entire calendar year. We did a single treatment at the beginning of the next allergy season when he started to occasionally shake his head. The symptoms disappeared immediately. We are happy to report that he is no longer on any medications and is doing great under saddle.
Head – CVM Large Animal Anatomy
We know that the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V) has 3 branches in horses: ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular nerves. These branches provide sensory information to the head and face. We suspect that inflammation or dysfunction of this nerve, likely at it’s exit from the skull, can lead to sensitivity to light, insects, and even dust particles. Damage to this nerve can affect chewing. Big Red had all of these symptoms.