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Discussion on Head Shaking Syndrome

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Linda Cronk
Member
Username: Lindac

Post Number: 10
Registered: 10-2002

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 11, 2003 - 7:12 pm:

DrO:

I have a horse that suffers from head shaking syndrome. When an endoscope was performed last fall numerous punctate red areas were present in both nasal passages. (It looked like someone had dotted the inside of his nasal passages with a red pen). None of the vets present (including a professor) had ever seen anything like this before and thought it extremely unusual. Since they were at a loss as to what would cause the marks they attributed them to the increased blood pressure and the irritation from the frequent snorting he was now experiencing, even though they did not have any statistical data to back this up.

I've recently read that a low grade herpes type virus can sometimes be the cause head shaking. I've checked the articles on head shaking/tossing but there is nothing discussed regarding herpes viruses. If a horse was suffering from this virus:

1. Would there be any other clinical signs, other than the head shaking?

2. Does this virus run it's course and then disappear like a cold/cough virus would?

3. If not, is there a treatment for this virus?

4. How contagious is this virus around other horses?

Thanks,

Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro

Post Number: 7773
Registered: 1-1997

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 12, 2003 - 7:00 am:

The connection between head shaking and herpes is conjectural and based on postherpetic neuralgia in humans. There are not any cases I can find in the equine literature so your questions about the relatationship beteen the two are really not known. However if you wish to learn more about herpes virus's in horses and have the questions about this disease in horses see,
» Equine Diseases » Nervous System » Equine Herpes Encephalopathy
» Equine Diseases » Reproductive Diseases » Problems Keeping Mares Pregnant » Equine Herpes & Abortion
» Equine Diseases » Respiratory System » Nasal Discharge, Cough, and Fever
DrO

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