This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Nervous System » Neurological Conditions Not Covered Above » Neurological topics not covered above. »
  Discussion on Unknown Neurological Problem
Author Message
Member:
sass

Posted on Thursday, Jul 21, 2011 - 10:15 pm:

My horse cannot Swallow. He wants to eat and drink, but he physically cannot. It gets so far down his throat, and then it comes back up. The vets at Hagyards said that its neurological. They are pretty stumped. Any ideas?
Member:
dres

Posted on Thursday, Jul 21, 2011 - 10:35 pm:

Galy how long has this been going on ..? First thought would be choke..

On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them spots..
Member:
mrose

Posted on Friday, Jul 22, 2011 - 1:09 am:

Oh dear. So sorry. Did they do a scope? Why do they think it's neurological? Like Ann, I'd think of choke also.

Is he getting IV fluids to keep hydrated?
Member:
babychop

Posted on Friday, Jul 22, 2011 - 8:15 am:

Are you anywhere near San Luis Rey Downs? They have a pretty good equine clinic (expensive but good)
Member:
sass

Posted on Friday, Jul 22, 2011 - 5:36 pm:

Its not choke. He's been tubed scoped mri ultarasound x ray, the whole shebang.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Friday, Jul 22, 2011 - 7:39 pm:

Wow Gayle. How strange! Obviously, I'm no vet and no help. I wish you luck. How long has this been going on? How old is the horse? Has he had any other symptoms? Did your vet have any suggestions? Treatments? I'll be reading here to see what happens. I've never heard of neurological symptoms causing this type of problem.
Member:
36541

Posted on Saturday, Jul 23, 2011 - 3:41 pm:

Hi Gayle. So sorry to hear your news.
Do they think it is a stroke? What is the
prognosis at this point? Stacy
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Jul 23, 2011 - 5:25 pm:

Gayle how old is the horse, does Hagyard have an opinion on what caused the neurological condition, and have any treatments been tried?
DrO
Member:
sass

Posted on Saturday, Jul 23, 2011 - 10:18 pm:

He is 22 years old.Hagyard has really no idea what caused his condition. He is finally starting to drink again, and eat, but only in small portions, but his coughing is getting better. He has been getting IV fluids, and is on Chinese Herbs, Rosemary(i forget to mention he has mild pneumonia because he was aspirating his food) Vitamins B and E and anything else we can get into him. He is only allowed ten minutes of grass every hour. No hay. He is getting a really runny bran mash with black-strap molasses, which he is eating.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Saturday, Jul 23, 2011 - 11:48 pm:

We had an older brood mare that we think had a stroke. She suddenly started walking stiff on one side, one ear DrOoped and one side of her face was crooked, and she couldn't blink one eye. She couldn't chew her food without it's just falling on the ground. She could swallow water however. She lived on watery mash made from alfalfa pellets with vitamins and oil thrown in. About half of it would land on the ground, but she did get some down. I don't know how much good it really did her, but I massaged her muscles along her face, rubbed her lips and ears and neck, made her walk, pulled on her legs etc. trying to do sort of physical therapy with her. We also had to keep putting wetting DrOps in her eye. She did recover over time, but always had a DrOopy lip and walked a little strange. She lived for many more years although we never rebred her. We had a horse that got kicked in the face who exhibited many of the same symptoms, who also recovered. Hopefully, with your help Hagyard will also recover. If he can drink, that very encouraging.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Jul 24, 2011 - 1:55 pm:

Gayle has anyone discussed the possibility of botulism poisoning? Dysphagia is a prominent sign but usually there are others. For more see
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Nervous System » Incoordination, Weakness, Spasticity, Tremors » Botulism Poisoning, Shaker Foals.
DrO
Member:
sass

Posted on Sunday, Jul 24, 2011 - 6:08 pm:

Dr. Slovis didnt seem to think it any type of poisening. He is starting to drink agian, which is good. They also dont think that it was a stroke.
Member:
paul303

Posted on Monday, Jul 25, 2011 - 12:28 am:

Boy, I have to agree with Dr.O. The only time I saw a horse with swallowing problems it turned out to be botulism. But, there were more symptoms - a problem walking...kept circling...trouble stepping over things...sometimes he could drink, sometimes not...he just began to lose muscle control. He had stuttering recoveries, and then desperate reversals. He was a prizewinning calf roper who was about 11. All kinds of tests were taken on the horse and on his environment. Clostridium Botchulinum was identified through Cornell University, then they had to do some kind of mouse test which seemed to clinch the diagnosis.

If your horse is coming out of it, it probably isn't botchulism. Wishing you continued good luck and a speedy recovery...
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jul 25, 2011 - 7:40 am:

On your thoughts about recovery ruling out Botulism, that's not exactly right Lee. If the dose is sublethal complete recovery can occur. If this is Botulism it appears to be a very mild case. Gayle why do they think a toxin unlikely?
DrO
Member:
sass

Posted on Monday, Jul 25, 2011 - 6:54 pm:

Nothing came up in any blood tests, i believe that is why, but i will ask. He can turn in circles, and isnt losing muscle control.He can walk fine too. ALso, he is foaming at the mouth.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Monday, Jul 25, 2011 - 7:05 pm:

What color is the foam? Is he making a chewing motion or licking which could cause the foam? Or is it just coming up on it's own?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jul 25, 2011 - 8:25 pm:

Botulism would not show on blood tests Gayle. The article discusses the difficulties with diagnosing Botulism poisoning which is one reason it occurs to me in your case.
DrO
Member:
divamare

Posted on Monday, Jul 25, 2011 - 10:53 pm:

We had a strange neurological situation here several weeks ago. Purdue equine vet felt very confident it was electrical shock from indirect lightning traveling across saturated ground. Horse walked/staggered in circles to the left only if I remember correctly. Appeared at first to have choke/great difficulty swallowing so I called PU ASAP. Wasn't choke. He appeared to have difficulty with his vision and tilted his head far to one side and appeared to be looking out of the top of his eye. He was mute for 24 hours which was highly unusual for him. He was absolutely terrified about his situation and was desperate to 'get away'. This is a horse that is more like a Lab than a horse--very unusual for him to be scared or want to run away. Vet believed after physical examination it was electrical shock. Said she had a cow recently who exhibited similar symptoms and the owner had seen the lightning strike. ? Very strange. He appeared to recover completely within 24 hours; however, I feel like his vision is still slightly off in his left eye as he is a bit spooky now on that side. ? Could be coincidence...

Hope your horse's situation improves quickly. Shame they cannot talk and tell us what happened.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 26, 2011 - 12:33 am:

Wow Vickie! I've known of horses that were killed by lightening traveling through wet ground. Glad this horse will be o.k.
Member:
frances

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 26, 2011 - 7:04 am:

Vickie, have you read this thread: Horse Advice - Horse Care - Tips and Tricks - Lightning Strike?
Member:
frances

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 26, 2011 - 7:06 am:

..oh...forgot to add its in the 2006 archive.
Member:
sass

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 26, 2011 - 11:39 pm:

The foam is whatever color he ate last. What can you guys tell me about a selenium defiency.Any personal experiences?
Member:
mrose

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 - 12:36 am:

Boy, the foamy stuff being the color of what he hate is sure reminescent of choke. I've never dealth with botulism or lightening strike, thankfully, so can't comment on either. From what I know of selenium defiency this doesn't fit the bill. You would have noticed other symptoms. You can do a search here on HA for it and read up on it. has articles on both deficency and toxicity.
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 - 9:10 am:

Gayle, you should ask about SE defiency in a new discussion. ;)

If you are in a SE defiencient part of the country you should add a SE/E supplement. I have to do that here in MI.

My one mare was really DrOopy and just not herself. I thought she perked up a bit after starting her on a SE supplement. Be sure to know how much she is getting total if you have selenium in another vitamin & mineral supplement. Too much is probably more dangerous than not enough.
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 - 9:57 am:

Very interesting case and happy that there has been some improvement.

A friend of mine had kind of a similar scenario to some of those described here and my first thought had been botulism but it was diagnosed as being a poll injury.

Good luck with this. I hope that you will be able to tell us that the horse continues to improve in the near future.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 - 4:31 pm:

For more on selenium deficiency see, HorseAdvice.com » Horse Care » Equine Nutrition, Horse Feeds, Feeding » Selenium in Horses.
DrO
Member:
sass

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 - 11:31 pm:

Got another blood test. SE levels normal. Mic is eating and drinking a ton more, and he is now able to eat chopped up hay with a lot of water. Hagyards is amazed by how well he is doing! hes no where near better, but doing well. HOw do they diagnose botulism?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Aug 1, 2011 - 3:40 pm:

Gayle we explain the diagnosis in the article on Botulism I referenced above. However once a horse is doing better chances that all traces will be gone.
DrO
Member:
sass

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 3, 2011 - 7:12 pm:

he is a roller coaster. some days are good, others are really bad. how do you know when theyve had enough??
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Aug 5, 2011 - 5:51 am:

Hello Gayle,
I am sorry to hear he is not continuing to improve. We have had many discussions on this topic but I think this is one of the best, HorseAdvice.com » Horse Care » Routine Horse Care » Particular Situations & Procedure topics not covered by above » Euthanasia.
DrO
Member:
sass

Posted on Saturday, Aug 6, 2011 - 3:38 pm:

we put him down today:-(
Member:
astbury

Posted on Saturday, Aug 6, 2011 - 4:13 pm:

Oh Gayle I am so very sorry. Have followed your postings and was so hoping he was on the road to recovery. You did everything you could for him and he will know that. Tomorrow will be hell - he will be everywhere and nowhere for you - I've been there too - but someone said to me that my boy was "even closer to me now". Seemed a weird thing to say at the time but I kind of understand now. Once the grief passes your happy memories will be with you every day. Take care.
Member:
shirl

Posted on Saturday, Aug 6, 2011 - 4:39 pm:

Gayle,

So sorry for your loss. His spirit will be with you every day, every where.

Shirl
Member:
paul303

Posted on Saturday, Aug 6, 2011 - 5:53 pm:

Oh Gayle......Take care of yourself. We can only do our best. My heart aches for you.
Member:
frances

Posted on Sunday, Aug 7, 2011 - 7:44 am:

I am so very sorry, Gayle.
Member:
36541

Posted on Sunday, Aug 7, 2011 - 10:05 am:

My deepest sympathies Gayle. Such a difficult decision every single time. Stacy
Member:
canter

Posted on Sunday, Aug 7, 2011 - 11:34 am:

My deepest condolances, Gayle. Such a heartbreaking decision but I know you did everything you could.

Fran
Member:
quatro

Posted on Sunday, Aug 7, 2011 - 7:19 pm:

Just checked in and read the thread, hoping like others for a better outcome. So very sorry for your loss
suz
Member:
lilo

Posted on Monday, Aug 8, 2011 - 12:57 pm:

So sorry to hear about your loss. My condolences, Lilo
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Monday, Aug 8, 2011 - 8:34 pm:

I am very sorry to hear of your loss, Gayle.
Member:
sass

Posted on Sunday, Aug 14, 2011 - 7:08 pm:

thanks guys, he was a good boy!
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC