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  Discussion on Low blood sugar and fainting
Author Message
Member:
lamepony

Posted on Sunday, Oct 28, 2007 - 9:45 am:

I have a 13 year old paint who seems to have a fainting disorder. Our vet did a pretty comprehensive blood screening and says that his blood sugar seems abnormally low at times. He recommended that we try to break up the feedings to keep the bloodsugar more consistent. Any research to support the notion that he is "passing out" due to that? His symptoms are pretty much the classic descriptions I have read here....he sort of zones out and then almost collaspes before startling awake. I can stop it from happening if I notice it...just by calling him or touching him....only seems to happen when he is standing around idle....
Member:
erika

Posted on Sunday, Oct 28, 2007 - 6:17 pm:

Sounds like sleep deprivation. There was a recent thread here on it. Do a search and I bet you'll find it.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Oct 29, 2007 - 7:04 am:

Hello Anne,
I have not seen hypoglycemia as a cause of fainting in horses. In humans this is usually associated with the over administration of insulin. Also there is a common problem with field glucose tests: the blood once placed in the tube continues to metabolize the glucose so if not quickly chilled and rapidly run the value has been falsely lowered. So the questions are: how low was it and how well was the sample handled. Sleep deprivation has been hypothesized in horses that are unable to lay down easily or are uncomfortable with their surroundings and leads to horses falling asleep standing up. I am not sure I have ever seen a case but in my experience narcolepsy is a common disease in horses.
DrO
Member:
lamepony

Posted on Monday, Oct 29, 2007 - 8:00 am:

the test was overnighted to the lab and I had results right away...vet said it was "very" low
It may well be that Scout doesn't sleep well. I never see him lying down...he sort of is the self appointed lookout horse and tends to be nervous. He dozes sometimes but always upright. ANd he has bedsores on front legs....I tend to think he sleeps more when we leave him in at night as it appears he lays down in the stall so maybe we need to try to do that more.
Member:
juliem

Posted on Monday, Oct 29, 2007 - 12:47 pm:

Bedsores on his front legs may be because he is falling--like a sleep deprived or narcoleptic horse. There are videos on the web of horse doing this. Many horses won't lie down to sleep if they don't have a reliable horse to "stand watch" when they're down.
Member:
lamepony

Posted on Monday, Oct 29, 2007 - 10:20 pm:

I think that makes alot of sense (sleep deprivation) because he seems to really take responsibility for being lookout at all times....he is always watch-duty. I have started to leave him in at night now with the colder weather because I think it may help. Do you know where I could find these videos online? I would like to see if it looks like what he does...
Member:
juliem

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 - 12:37 am:

Try this link https://www.equisearch.com/horses_care/health/behavior/sleepdisorder_121506/
If that doesn't work, google "equine sleep disorders" or equine sleep deprivation
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007 - 6:32 am:

Anne I would expect a sample run the next day to have a significantly lowered blood glucose level as described above. Just several hours without cooling will lower the level substantially. How low depends on initial blood glucose levels, handling, and the PCV. Does someone have a human glucometer like would be used by a diabetic, this should give a quick accurate result cheaply though you will need to have someonw draw a DrOp of blood to test.
DrO
Member:
lamepony

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 - 8:55 pm:

I could definitely do that... I have medical supplies that could do that job. And that would enable me to test at different times of day and see if it varies....poor little horse....I will need a supply of treats and kisses to get him to cooperate.
Member:
lamepony

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 - 9:10 pm:

Thank you for the video link Julie. That could be my horse...if he had a white face....that looks EXACTLY like what he does....and he is not one to rest....maybe the blood sugar thing was just coincidental. Although the horse likes the idea of three feedings a day.....
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