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  Discussion on Horse keeps falling down
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Posted on Wednesday, Feb 2, 2000 - 2:03 pm:

I am hoping someone can give me some kind of help here. My friend has a 7 year old Arab Gelding. He has started falling down - not to his knees but actually falling right over on his side. He jumps right back up after this and acts as if nothing has happened. He only does this when she rides him out on a trail. He is good for about 45 minutes. She has tried different saddles and pads
but they don't seem to offer any relief.
The 1st vet took xrays and said he has arthritis and she can never ride him again. The 2nd vet says hog wash - there is no arthritis but there is definatly some back soreness. He is sending the xrays to another vet for evaluation.
Has anyone heard or seen this before?
Thanks

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 2, 2000 - 3:19 pm:

Have you asked your vet about the possibility of either EPM or Narcolepsy? You didn't mention whether he stumbles or falters prior to falling over. Where is the supposed arthritis - in his back, or in his leg joints?

Posted on Thursday, Feb 3, 2000 - 11:36 am:

I would really wonder about narcolepsy my self by the way you described. But as I have read, short of the horse doing it in front of the vet it is really hard to diagnose. Hmmm....

I'll bite, this one sounds interesting, more specifics please...

Emily

Posted on Thursday, Feb 3, 2000 - 2:44 pm:

Hello Marse,
If the horse gets us and shows no other signs of lameness, neurological deficit, or discomfort, I agree with the above sentiments that either very short seizures or narcolepsy may be the cause. This is actually pretty common in horses, I think I have the beginningsd of an article on it around here. I will see if I can get it up this month.
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Feb 3, 2000 - 5:35 pm:

Hello Marse,
I would tend to agree with the sentiments of Dr. O. Narcolepsy was first reported in horses as a fainting condition. A familial occurrence has not been recognized in horses, as it has in man and dogs. Narcolepsy is an incurable, nonprogressive central nervous system disorder characterized by abnormal sleep tendency including exessive daytime sleepiness. In narcolepsy muscle relaxation intrudes abruptly into wakefulness. This muscle weakness produces a collapse, or cataplexy, which is the most obvious sign of narcolepsy. The disease is seen in horses of all ages. Although complete attacks occur, most horses remain standing, with their heads hanging and resting close to or on the ground. Complete attacks may occur and result in the horse lying on its side with flaccid limbs. These episodes last from a few seconds to 10 minutes. The horse appears completely normal following these sleep attacks with no residual neurologic deficits. Diagnosis of narcolepsy in the horse is based on history, clinical signs, and the absence of other diseases, partiularly myasthenia gravis, seizures, and syncope. It is interesting that the stimulation required to induce an attack may vary from leading a horse out of the stall to stroking the horse's back. The trigger for a cataplectic attack tends to be highly reproducible in an individual but varies between individuals. I hope this information is helpful. Sincerely, Dr. Woodworth

Posted on Saturday, Feb 5, 2000 - 2:00 pm:

Thanks for the input - I am going riding with my friend today so I can see for myself what is happening. I will post my findings later on.
Marse

Posted on Saturday, Feb 5, 2000 - 3:17 pm:

I just read a recent report that states narcolepsy
as one of the advanced symptoms of EPM, hmmm, I
never knew that but thought it might be good to
mention here.

P.S.
Hope your friend has learned to be light in the
saddle, she must have cat-like releaxes to avoid
getting caught under a napping horse.

Posted on Monday, Feb 7, 2000 - 12:41 pm:

Emily - was that report in the new Equus? I just read that too, and had been unaware of narcolepsy (and seizures) as being a symptom of EPM.

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 8, 2000 - 11:23 am:

Yup, I think that is where it was, however I have found that the mags "new stuff" is usually about 6-9 months old news to the medical community, as well as being frequently inaccurate so takeing that into consideration, it is just a thought.

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 8, 2000 - 2:25 pm:

I think EQUUS does does a pretty good job of medical editing. They have recently had a editorial change so we will see if they continue there good work. I miss Ami's monthly editorial however.

Seizures are a rare but written about complication of EPM. The area the protozoan encysts determines the clinical signs and so if it settles in an areas that when irritated creates a seizure that's what you get.

It would be way down on my list and would not treat for EPM unless there were other things to suggest this might be the problem: other cases in the area, progressive clinical signs. When I think about it however, I do not base this on any known work, maybe a percentage of these odd seizure horses have would respons to EPM treatment....? I do not htink anyone knows for sure.
DrO
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