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Discussion on Possible narcolepsy - is she safe to ride?
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New Member:
inkyjane
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Posted on Saturday, Feb 23, 2008 - 1:45 pm:
The more I read this thread, the more I think my horse has narcolepsy.
I have had a lovely, kind TB/ID mare on loan for just over a year now. She is an ex-eventer, now semi-retired, about 21 yrs. Up until about 2 months ago I was hacking out about 2-3 times a week with her, plus starting to do some more schooling and a little jumping. She seemed to be enjoying her work. Then I hurt my back, which meant she was laid off suddenly. We continued our routine of in at night, turned out during the day and adjusted her hard feed accordingly.
About 2 weeks ago she was out in the field when my friend saw her appear to stumble and then lie down, flat out. She allowed my friend to walk right up to her and appeared to be out cold. Her breathing and pulse were normal and she wasn't sweaty or distressed. My friend was able to pick her head up, touch her eyelid and nostril, all with no response. Eventually she got up, but seemed groggy. Later on she was eating etc. normally, but seemed a bit 'knocked off' for a couple of days.
I had the vet out and he confirmed her pulse, breathing, temperature and gut sounds were all OK. Blood tests also came back 'normal'. He advised keeping an eye on her and said her thought the problem was definitely brain related.
Over the past couple of weeks she has seemed much more herself until today, when she had another 'episode', again in the field. This time I was there and saw her get down to roll, then rest on her chest for a minute. As I walked up she appeared to be chewing a bit of grass and stopped. She looked a bit dazed, but as she was clearly aware (ears moving, looking round at me) I started to walk away when she went down flat. I went back and she got herself up, again looked quite 'knocked off' - lip DrOoping, head DrOpping, plus she seemed to have a tic in her right eyelid and a bit of a shiver in her left fore. These disappeared within a couple of minutes and she went back to grazing.
I had planned to try just a quiet walk out and decided to continue as she seemed more herself. Out on the ride it was pretty much business as usual - she was a bit sluggish and wanting to have a good look at things, but then she hadn't been out for weeks, so I wouldn't say that was unexpected.
She hasn't any sores and doesn't exhibit this behaviour when being fed, tacked up etc., although she has always been quiet to handle. She does crib and this seems a bit more pronounced for a couple of days after an episode. She has also lost a quite a bit of weight despite all the hay she can eat and two big 'short' feeds a day. Is there a chance that, if she's 'zoning out' during the day, this is interfering with her grazing? Her coat is nice and glossy and she is regularly wormed, teeth checked etc.
My other main concern is riding. Most of the reading I've done on this subject suggests episodes are rare during exercise - what do you think? Also, is this something age related or should I be looking at environmental factors?
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Sunday, Feb 24, 2008 - 11:53 am:
Hi Jane,
Welcome! Dr. O will have better diagnostic info for you. I'm curious why you are inclined to consider narcolepsy over seizures in this mare, though obviously I can't see her and am not an expert.
The decision to ride a horse with a greater-than-usual chance of DrOpping to the ground is a personal one, of course. If she DrOps w/o much warning (which seems quite possible), she's dangerous to herself and to you. While you might get many more rides out of her, you might also eventually find yourself trapped under her with one or both of you seriously hurt, feeling like you should have seen the accident coming.
So I might suggest re-reading the article on seizures to re-think the narcolepsy. If there's a chance these are seizures, I wouldn't ride her. If it's narcolepsy, well, I don't know whether that's safer.
Best of luck to you and your mare, and let us know what you learn, and how you both get along.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Sunday, Feb 24, 2008 - 12:42 pm:
HMMMM Elizabeth isn't narcolepsy considered a seizure? . Tho I would have to go read the article I think it is considered some kind of seizure. Tho I have never seen a horse with narcolepsy or any kind of seizure. I'm not sure how to distinguish the differences....but I bet it is in the article.
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Sunday, Feb 24, 2008 - 12:58 pm:
Hi Diane,
I actually read the article before commenting. The thing that struck me about narcolepsy as a condition is
1) specific to sleep centers
2) often has avoidable triggers (grooming)
3) can generally be warded off temporarily by stimulus
all of which go to the question of safety under saddle. If the mare is narcoleptic, she may well me safe to ride, albeit with feet light in the stirrups.
If she is having seizures not specific to the sleep centers with unknown triggers that are not warded off predictably by stimulus, then she seems to me to be unsafe to ride under any circumstances.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Sunday, Feb 24, 2008 - 1:13 pm:
Elizabeth I went and read the articles (I'm sure one of my horses will now have a seizure)
Did you read the article about seizures & fainting? Of course Janes horse could not have narcolepsy, but in the seizure article her horse does fit the Primary seizure picture which includes narcolepsy. If I understand the article correctly it sounds as if running blood tests and checking other things can help rule out if it is a secondary seizure attributed to a disease process.
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New Member:
inkyjane
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Posted on Sunday, Feb 24, 2008 - 1:36 pm:
Hi Folks, thanks for your comments!
I have been really concerned about the riding issue, although my vet has told Jazz's owner it's OK to ride - I will be checking this out again with him tomorrow! I did re-read the article and note that some owners' experiences differ. I also read the other article about seizures and agree with Diane that it does sound more like Primary seizure activity. Interestingly both 'odd episodes' occurred late on a Saturday morning, when other horses had been out or were going out. I wonder if that might relate in some way to the time of day, and we just don't observe it on other days because we're at work during the week, or whether there is an emotional trigger - Jazz is used to being in work and this all began after an unusually long lay-off, during which my friend noticed that she was becoming a bit flatter in mood.
She has had blood screens done and these all came back negative - in the vet's words "that means there's nothing medical going on".
Last night and today she's been very much her usual self - clearing up her feed, alert and interested.
Guess all I can do for now is keep an eye on her.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Sunday, Feb 24, 2008 - 1:57 pm:
Jane keep us informed. My arab gelding "faints" when saddling him....goes to his knees, I normally can see it coming before it happens. He gets that look and gets wobbly. He doesn't do this all the time. When I catch it I untie him quickly and walk him around to "wake" him up, he does seem a bit dazed...DrOopy lip ect. at first. When I deem him with it. I ride him and have never had a problem while riding. I don't know if this is the same kind of activity as your horse, but I have never felt unsafe on Sam under saddle. As Elizabeth said I think I would ride light in the stirrups and close to home until you know for sure. Good Luck
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