TEXAS VET NEWS By Dr. Bob Judd, DVM and the Texas Farm Bureau Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network

Today on the program I am going to talk about a condition in horses called headshaking that can be difficult to control.  All horses shake their heads to some extent, but horses with headshaking shake so severely that they may not be able to be ridden or can be dangerous to handle.  Most horses with headshaking shake their heads in an up and down manner but some will shake side to side.  Many times they will also rub their noses and lips as if an insect has flown up their nose.  Diagnosing the cause of headshaking can be difficult as there can be several different causes including dental disease, ear infections, respiratory infections or parasites in the nasal cavity, eye disease or nervous system diseases.  Also, there is a condition called photic headshaking in which shaking begins when animals are exposed to light and are normal at night or inside a barn. 

Treatment of headshaking will not be effective until you know the cause and this starts with a good dental exam under sedation to check for any pain in the teeth or soft tissue of the oral cavity.  Also, the guttural pouches should be examined with an endoscope to check for evidence of inner and middle ear infection.  The endoscope can also be used to check for infection or mites in the nasal cavity that could contribute to inflammation and head shaking.  The external ears also need to be examined for mites or infection.  Dr. Sharon Crowell Davis, a veterinary behaviorist, indicates in equine compendium that inappropriate bits can also play a role in headshaking and recommends if all tests and exams are negative, consider a bitless bridle to see if it helps with headshaking.

Hear the audio of this program at the Texas Farm Bureau Network.

Date Published: 5/4/2009 10:41:00 AM