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  Discussion on Can horses have strokes?
Author Message
New Member:
Coally

Posted on Friday, Apr 9, 2004 - 10:08 pm:

Dr.O, My gelding is 34 years old. I visit him every day. 1 month ago he mean't me at the gate as usual, nickered to me , turned around walked off then stumbled to the ground, this happened 3 times as if his front legs went out on him, he then layed down for about 10 minutes, got up, very heavy breathing,rapid pulse. My vet was to the barn within 30 minutes and thought he was displaying colic symptoms, he was tubed and banimine was given I.V. I told my vet that it lookes as if he was having a stroke. It did not resemble colic to me. No problems that we have seen for about a month. Went out to visit as usual was feeding carrots, he was alert, happy, then his left front leg just started to give out he struggled to get up 4 or 5 times fell to the ground on his knees, he then propelled himself on his knees with his hindqaurters about 50 ft. across the pasture. It was the most horrible site I have ever witnessed. He then collapsed for about 20 minutes. Rapid pulse , heavy breathing. He got up very excited, trotting and cantering (this from a horse with navicular and arthritis that never does more than trots a few feet when feeling well). Took the vet 5 hours to arrive . Blood work has been done but no results yet. We are treating for stroke with 3 days of tubed Dmso for inflamation and banimine orally for 5 days. He has no side effects any where from the episodes. My question, have you ever seen such a thing? I have read everyting I can find on your site but nothing that sounds like this. EPM? Do horses have strokes and what would there symptoms be? Are they unaware of what they are doing like a seizure when it is happening. I am afraid to put him on concrete or in his stall because he collapses so fast. Any information will be greatly appreciated! Thankyou, Kathy
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Apr 9, 2004 - 11:05 pm:

The symptoms of stroke vary tremendously as any part of the brain can be effected: the symptoms depend on the location. If you are asking is a stroke possible in a horse the answer is yes and would be on the list of possibilities. But weakness to the point of collapse can be caused by many diseases. Unfortunately the number of possiblilities is too great to list here at this point a good physical and laboratory work up are necessary to give us a chance at a diagnosis. I would wait until all the information is in and in the mean time your course of action seems reasonable for the information you have provided.
DrO
Member:
Coally

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 3, 2004 - 8:31 am:

Dear Dr. O. Treated with Marquis as a precaution. Decided not to do a spinal tap but did run a western blot test which as we thought with a horse this age, that it would be positive. Have not had any more episodes since I posted last!!!
Member:
Ryle

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 3, 2004 - 10:27 am:

Kathy,
Did he test positive on the western blot?
If you truly think it was EPM, then you might consider joining the EPM group on yahoo groups.
Just giving the meds isn't all there is to treating EPM and there is usually a significant amount of time needed to recover and learn to compensate for any permanent damage that was done.

Good luck,
Cindy D.
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