Re: Possible narcolepsy, epilepsy in my new horse?

["Claudia Provin" <provincmk@fanninelectric.com>]

I don't know what it IS--but it sure sounds like absence (pronounced
abSONCE) seizures in people  (a form of seizure disorder - also called
epilepsy - in which the person just stares off into space for a bit)---
Claudia

----- Original Message -----
From: <guest@endurance.net>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2000 12:24 PM
Subject: RC: Possible narcolepsy, epilepsy in my new horse?


> DebbieLewis dlewis@condorearth.com
> The horse is a 9-year old Egyptian Arab gelding, two weeks into a 30-day
trial period.  Symptoms have been observed twice while loading into a
trailer, and possibly once in a show ring.  (i.e. "stressful" situations)
The horse "zones out", drops his head, eyes glaze over, lips vibrate (almost
electrically)(not a quiver or a flopping), his knees go unsteady (but do not
buckle) and he is non-responsive to voice commands.  Gentle tugs on the
halter have no effect.  A slow, firm pull on the halter will bring up his
head, but it drops again.  Duration of sypmtoms is about one-half minute to
two minutes.  Then he pops back, lifts his head, shakes it, and returns to
the task at hand.  One time he had a small piece of carrot in his mouth, and
stopped chewing.  When he came to, he began chewing again and finished the
carrot.  No signs of distress or sweating.  No sign of choke, convulsions,
twitching, or involuntary body movement.  It looks like he is falling
asleep.  My daughter said!
>  he may have done the same thing while lined up in the show ring.  She
thought he might fall.  I haven't observed this at any other time.  The
previous owner said she only saw this "behavior" once, on a trail ride long
ago, and assumed it was no problem.
>
>
> Has anyone seen anything similar?  This horse had a negative coggins test,
passed a prepurchase exam and showed no temperature, respiratory or other
abnormalities.  He does have an extremely calm, placid personality, and a
slow, smooth way of going.  Could this be epilepsy?  narcolepsy?  EPM?
encephalitis?  brain electrical imbalance? rabies?  stress from thye move?
Is it contagious?  Should I separate him from the herd?  He was an only
child, and lived along before I got him.  Hadn't left home for several
months.
>
> My vet is now recommending that I not buy, and has revised his opinions
regarding the prepurchase exam.  This horse has not passed.  I like this
little guy's quiet demeanor, and would like to keep him.  Thank you for any
advice or ideas that you may have.  I hope I haven't been too wordy or too
brief.
>
>
>
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
> Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
> Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>
>