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  Discussion on Head and neck area painful?
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Member:
Nadia

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 8, 2004 - 8:56 am:

My horse seems to have some pain in his upper neck, ear, poll area. The symptoms started in April along with some headshaking (allergies). He was given Cyproheptadine. He is very sensitive to being touched near the top of his head (very unlike him). He panics when I try to put his halter on - when putting the top over his ears. Since the halter is rather loose, the sensitivity there is generally no longer a problem. I didn't ride much while he was on the medication, but have now increased since he has stopped headshaking (allergens seem to be gone). Now, he is very sensitive to the bridle being put on - over the ears. I am (and always have been) very careful to kindly push his ears through the top, but this is where he is having a major problem. I have been giving him massages at the top of his head/neck area. I am definitely hitting a sore spot, but he does seem to cooperate for the most part, as he seems to feel some relief while I am doing this (he looks like he is going to fall asleep and DrOps his head, until I inadvertently hit a sore spot again). No one is aware of any injury he may have sustained in the pasture or stall, not to say that he didn't do something. He eats normally (no problem DrOpping his head to the ground). Should I just give this time to heal (like a bruise or strain?) or do you think it is best to have an x-ray done?

Thanks.
Member:
Cowgrl

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 8, 2004 - 11:36 am:

You might want to have the vet check his ear canals. He may have ear mites or may have something like a foxtail way down deep causing his poll to be sore. X rays would be the way I would go on this one.
Member:
Nadia

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 8, 2004 - 1:45 pm:

I had him to the vet to check his ears about 3 weeks ago. At the time, he didn't have much in the way of symptoms - almost minimal, but went anyway, just in case. Ears were very clean, no bugs, mites or hay. X-ray of gutteral pouch area only - no problem there. I didn't suspect something at the top of head - I was thinking it was his ear. But now it seems like the pain has gotten worse in the past week.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 9, 2004 - 8:31 am:

Nadia,
I cannot know if your horse has a disease somehere around the poll but if there are no other signs of a problem and if head carriage at different gaits is normal, this seems less likely. If you feel strongly about it you probably should give some antiinflammatory treatment and time, then radiographs when it does not resolve.

I have seen hundreds of ear shy horses and a few horses that behave like yours while being tacked: they seem to go to sleep then all of a sudden explode awake. I wonder if you might not do better trying to keep him from DrOoping during tacking up and periodically rewarding positive behavior with very small food rewards as you tack, see Training Horses » Training Your Horse's Mind » Modifying a Horses Behavior: Conditioned Responses for ideas on this.
DrO
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