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HorseAdvice.com » Treatments and Medications for Horses » Anti-inflammatories (NSAID's, Steroids, Arthritis Rx) » Dexamethasone » |
Discussion on Head Trauma-What Can I Expect? | |
Author | Message |
Member: eoeo |
Posted on Wednesday, Feb 6, 2008 - 8:27 am: We have a 10 month old colt that jumped out of a paddock that had 5 1/2-6 foot panels. I found him outside laying there. I assume he hit head first and rolled on his neck. He couldn't get up for a while, finally got on his feet. We got him into a stall, the vet has put a catheter in and he is getting 10ccs of dex and 10ccs of dmso each day. This happened Friday afternoon. He is eating, having bowel movements, drinking water, etc. I am giving him banamine. He is standing with his head tilted and his left ear DrOops. He can can move his head and neck either direction. When he is eating the little grain I am giving him he holds his head pretty straight up and down.He had what appeared to be muscle spasms day before yesterday, his tail went to one side and he acted very uncomfortable for about 15 seconds. Then his tail straightened out. He carries it straight otherwise. The vet wants to do this for 7 days, we are on day 6. He said we will have gotten any good results from the dex and dmso by then. The colt appears more comfortable now. What can I expect on the head tilt? I assume it just takes a lot of time to have whatever healing take place that is going to be done. Has anyone had this happen to them? If so what was the outcome? EO |
Member: mysi |
Posted on Wednesday, Feb 6, 2008 - 2:21 pm: A friend of mine has a horse that at about 11 months old they were attempting to load him into a trailer and he reared, spun and flipped over backwards hitting his head on the ramp and was out. They got him up and into a stall, he was very unbalanced, kinda swayed side to side for a few days, had periodic muscle spasms that kinda looked like seizures and he had the "tilted head" thing. He got through it ok in like a week or so. He's going on 5 this May, still has the tilted head, is deaf and not sure if it's related but has a serious screw loose. The horse seems fine for the most part, but has random episodes of SERIOUS nastiness out of nowhere for no reason. |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Wednesday, Feb 6, 2008 - 6:11 pm: Hello LKR,There is no way to predict the outcome and in fact it remains uncertain why the head tilt exists though the DrOoping ear suggests peripheral nerve damage. In which direction does the head tilt and is there any "tick" to the eyes. This could be muscle trauma or neurological. In either case whether the damage is permanent or will possibly heal can only be guessed and every case is different and may take several months if nerves need to regenerate. So take heart the antiinflammatories you are using sound like about as aggressive as you can be and give it time. DrO |
Member: eoeo |
Posted on Thursday, Feb 7, 2008 - 9:47 am: Thank you for your reply, Dr. O. His left ear is the one that is affected. His head cocks slightly to his left, nose slightly to his right.He is holding his neck fairly straight forward for the most part. I am going to rub DMSO on his neck muscles. Can I use that up at the poll area? I know his muscles are sore, he is also sore in his hamstrings, or at least sensitive. This boy did a real number on himself. He is by our stallion Basket Weave and out of a daughter of Sham. His full siblings are fantastic individuals. Is there anything else I can give him for soreness? We are giving the dex in the muscle now as his catheter pinched or something and wouldn't let me give it that way. He had dex this a.m. and will get one more tomorrow which will be 7 days. Our vet said we will have gotten all the good out of it that we will get by then. Do you agree with that? His whole demeanor is like a person with one heck of a sore neck. EO |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Friday, Feb 8, 2008 - 1:08 pm: Yes I think a week of dex is about all I would consider using but would continue the NSAID until all signs of pain, but not neurological dysfunction necessarily, disappeared. Is the stiffness pain or dysfunction can be hard to decide so I would error on the side of it being pain.DrO |
Member: eoeo |
Posted on Saturday, Feb 9, 2008 - 11:05 pm: Day 8 update. Have finished the Dex treatment. I am putting DMSO on the neck muscles. He does seem to be sore on his pole. He moves his neck both directions when he wants to, eats with it mostly straight. Head is still cocked and he acts like someone does with a stiff neck. His eyes don't seem to have a tic. I am still giving him banamine once a day, do you think I should do it twice? He seems as though he isn't in a lot of pain at this point. He tried to get away from my husband last night when we went to catch him to give him his last dex shot. He was much steadier on his feet than before. The left ear works when he consciously moves it, otherwise, it doesn't hang, it just sticks out to the side, though not quite as much as it did a few days ago.He thoroughly enjoys the neck massaging we are doing. He has a good appetite and is drinking water. Progress is there, just slow. EO |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Sunday, Feb 10, 2008 - 9:16 am: Sounds promising LKR, it is the small but definite improvements that indicate hope.I would follow my vet's instructions on the Banamine but you can see our recommended dosages at Treatments and Medications for Horses » Anti-inflammatories (NSAID's, Steroids, Arthritis Rx) » Flunixin (Banamine). |
New Member: tbowner4 |
Posted on Sunday, Feb 10, 2008 - 2:12 pm: I had a horse that had gotten hurt on the track. She walked really crooked, head tilted to inside and head up. She wouldn't straighten, even her whole body walked crooked.A chiropractor from Cincinnati Ohio examined her and did one treatment on her. She walked out of the stall straight as arrow, and have not had any more problems. I would get a good horse chiropractor. This one worked for the Bengals in Cincinnati. I don't remember his name. Good luck. |
Member: vickiann |
Posted on Sunday, Feb 10, 2008 - 2:12 pm: A friend of mine's mare had a rather serious poll injury, causing the neck to be held crookedly, eye needed ointment for lubrication, tail was held strangely and there was a problem with general balance, and especially hind quarter instability. Treatments were given like those you describe, and eventually the mare had a very good outcome -- better than the Vet. expected. In fact, he was afraid that she would not survive. Also, my friend was instructed to hand walk the mare at some point in the rehabilitation process, which she did (was stall kept through the treatment and beyond with the hand-walking prescription). Eventually she was cleared to again be turned out. The Vet has since told her to begin some ground work, which she has not been able to do because of lack of time, but the mare is now doing very well. I don't recall how long the entire process took, but believe the improvement was gradual over a period up to about 8 - 10 months. |
Member: paardex |
Posted on Monday, Feb 11, 2008 - 12:17 pm: I had a foal with a similar injury my vet AND the fysiotherapist warned me NOT to try anything in the acute stadium where bruises etc need to heal. If healing stops and he stays the same after a while I would perhaps try something like a chiroprator but certainly not in an acute stage when he is still improvingJust my opinion but foals are growing very fast and imo to delicate to manipulate without giving it loads of thought and talking to the vet Jos |
Member: tbowner4 |
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 - 1:48 am: I forgot to mention and agree with Jos that following the vets advise during the acute stage of healing would be the smart thing to do. Never do anything without your vet and other professionals coordinating and being in agreement as to what to do in these serious cases. My horse had healed from the initial injury which was quite a while from the treatment that my vet and other specialist agreed upon doing. I just assume that common sense says to Follow the vets and specialist advise as to treatment and when to do the steps that they advise. You must wait to one situation heals before starting another treatment issue. Sorry that I wasn't as clear as should have been. Good luck. |
Member: kamibroo |
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 - 11:36 am: I had a sort of similar thing recently. In addition to following vet's advice, I used arnica flower heads to make a warm compress that I used directly on the spine and over the hips (mine was a severly pulled back). He did respond to the hot compress as if it helped a lot.To make the compress I brought 3 cups arnica flower heads to a boil. Strained the 'tea' through a small towel, wrapped them up in the towel and kept dipping it back into the 'tea' to rewarm it. Then held it onto the poll, spine, hips. It made my guy streatch out and make huge 'goo goo' faces and he was definitely less sore and could tolerate message better afterwards. It might be just the warmth of the compress, but I think the arnica flowers helped. Good luck with your guy. |
Member: tbowner4 |
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 - 8:57 pm: There are many different things that can be done to say the least. Acupuncture, message, and as mentioned by Kbrooks; I used 2 different vets well known for the acupuncture and a referral for the message. My horses did no good with either but did do well with the chiropractic work.You, your vet and your referrals have to work together, same as a farrier and vet for best treatment for your individual horse as all are different to a degree. No injury or illness will be absolutely same. Good luck |
Member: kamibroo |
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008 - 10:03 pm: My vet is also a chiropractor and does acupuncture. He did adjust the horse and do some acupuncture on him. But this was a 5yo gelding who had gotten his head stuck in something, then tried to pull up with all his might. Not a young foal who had thumped himself hard onto the ground.I agree with others who said to wait for swelling to go down before any chiropractic work. My horse got benamine (only thing on hand) immediately, then was seen in the afternoon of the next day (so about 28hrs afterwards) when it was clear that he'd really messed himself up good. I know that Dr O is not in favor of promoting chiropractic work on this site and respect his position on it. In this instance the horse had a significant weakness in the front left that caused his first step into a trot to drag and that caused him to stumble every time. Immediately after the adjustment (as in while trotting him out to see how he was doing for the vet) that was gone and has not returned. Now, that could just that the stretching and manipulation that was done undid a pinched nerve or something. I don't know. To me it was worth it to have the vet look at him and adjust him because it relieved his worst symptoms. After that, he got a muscle relaxant in his night feed for 5 days and I kept him blanketed to keep his muscles warm. I'm now 7 days out and his back is still sore to a certain extent, but I think it is normal enough given how badly he pulled it. I'm fortunate with my vet because he's been a vet for over forty years and has specialized in horses and in lameness for most of that time. He is able to bring everything to the table in the same visit and will not hesitate to do x-rays, blood work, medication, etc if needed. I do not think I would ever use a chiropractor who was not first a vet. |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008 - 6:44 am: Hello kbrooks,You misunderstand my position on chiropractic. I do not discourage members from posting about their experiences. I will comment on the odd diagnostic and therapeutic language they use (which is often meaningless in a medical sense) and challenge the lack of scientific support for many of the procedures. On the other hand I posted a positive piece of scientific work concerning chiropractic. DrO |
Member: ljudkins |
Posted on Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008 - 3:25 pm: you might want to consider a head x-ray to see if the horse has damaged his hyoid bone. |