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  Discussion on Recurrent episodes of trembling and lack of stability (strokes?)
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New Member:
mlampo

Posted on Thursday, Mar 8, 2012 - 3:10 pm:

I have a 17 year-old Oldenburg mare in Venezuela, Matea, with a series of symptoms that appear to be neurological, although vets here have not been able to diagnose her. I appreciate any information that can help me with the diagnosis and treatment if possible.

One morning, while doing routine dressage work, Matea started trembling and collapsed. She stood up and collapsed several time until she finally was able stay standing. After a few minutes, she walked normally to her stable. The vet suggested taking a blood sample right away to find out through Creatine Kinase- Myoglobin tests, if she could have had a heart attack. All values were found to be normal. She was given banamine and dexametasone. The next morning, while eating in her stall, Matea started trembling again. At times, it appeared as if she was going to fall. Symptoms disappeared within an hour. We took blood samples again and the results showed a significant decrease in red blood cells, and hemoglobin. We repeated all blood tests daily and within a week all counts returned to their normal values. We did an echo sonogram but found no evidence of abnormal follicles or ovaries.
Doses of banamine and dexametasone were gradually reduced during that week and we started giving her a vitamin B complex.

As she showed no further symptoms, we started working her lightly on a lounge line. We observed nothing abnormal for three weeks, despite she was working daily. However, last week she had a new episode of trembling and lack of coordination. Again, blood samples were taken but results revealed no alterations. One thing I noticed -the vet has not been able to watch her during these short episodes- is that her pupil (she only has one eye) seemed to dilate during the episode. We gave her banamine and dexametasone for one day and all symptoms disappeared. This week the episode repeated exactly: trembling, instability but after a couple hours she seemed fine. Although she has been under observation during the day, these episodes seem to occur only during the morning.

Vets here have not been able diagnose her, as they have not experienced similar cases before.

Hoping that your experience will help us to diagnose Matea or to direct us on what to examine or look for.

Margarita Lampo
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 14, 2012 - 7:20 am:

Hello Margarita,
I apologize for the slow response, I had replied over the weekend and apparently failed to get it posted. The problem with diagnosing seizures is not lack of experience but that many of the diagnostic techniques required for diagnosis are too expensive to be practical for almost any equine. To read about the possibilities, diagnostic techniques, and for potential treatments available I want you to review HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Nervous System » Seizures & Fainting » Seizures and Epilepsy. If you have any questions following reading the article you can post them there.
DrO
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