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  Discussion on Siezure in standardbred colt
Author Message
New Member:
sis77

Posted on Thursday, Jul 31, 2008 - 9:54 am:

Dr. O, Found your article on Seizure & Epilepsy very informative, but still have questions. This colt was started in race training 6 months ago. When first started he reared and fell several times. As training continued he stopped rearing and began jogging on track without any problems. Later on the trainer told us he had several episodes of "freezing up" when coming off the track after working. These spells lasted from 2 to 6 minutes. I finally got to witness this about a month ago. He came off the track and into the barn to the cross ties and did freeze. When lead away he stumbled badly and had a quiver in his back leg muscles. He also had a glazed far away look in his eyes. After returning to his stall he seemed to recover after several minutes and started eating hay although his eyes still had a glassy look. Being afraid someone might get hurt we stopped training and turned him out a month ago. Has had no more spells since turn out that we are aware of. It seems excersise and getting hot trigger these spells. I am familiar with seizure in dogs as I had 2 terriers with these spells. The colts spells look very much me very much like te dogs attacks. Do these symptoms indicate seizure to you and if so is it something he might grow out of. What is your feeling about returning him to training. Your input and advice would be greatly appreciated. Sis S
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jul 31, 2008 - 11:16 am:

Hello sis77,
Could you better define what he is doing while frozen up? Is he nonresponsive to external stimuli of all types?
DrO
New Member:
sis77

Posted on Thursday, Jul 31, 2008 - 4:17 pm:

Dr. O, You asked me to describe what I meant by the colt freezing up. In the episode I saw he completely stopped moving, stood stock still with no movement at all except for the quivering of his back leg muscles. The trainer was able to move him from the frozen position and when he did the colt started stumbling after him down the length of the barn. He was then put directly into his stall. I hope this helps, as I don't know how else to describe it except all movement stopped, none from his head or any other body movement. Thanks for your interest. Sis S.
New Member:
sis77

Posted on Thursday, Jul 31, 2008 - 4:35 pm:

Dr. O, A post script to my last message: The colt stood in this freeze while the cart and harness were being removed with seemingly no awareness of what was going on around him. Then followed when lead away by the trainer. Sis S
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Aug 1, 2008 - 7:44 am:

There are not many conscience states that are accompanied with a complete unawareness of the surroundings except seizure. You also describe what could be the DrOwsy post-DrOmal phase. It sounds like a seizure sis77.

He is a little old for foal seizures which a horse will usually grow out of, but when you ask is it possible...there is much that is possible even if it is not likely. If you believe exercise under saddle brings on the episodes I don't know how you can safely train this fellow to race. While we do have recommendations for medications that will help control these and even make it possible to train, these medications would not be permitted on the track.
DrO
New Member:
sis77

Posted on Friday, Aug 1, 2008 - 8:30 am:

Dr. O, Thank you for your feedback, although it dosn't give us much hope, it was appreicated. I would be interested in hearing from anyone out there who might have had simular experiences. Sis S.
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