A Case Study of Gait-Mediated Trigeminal Neuralgia in Equids

Authors: Casey VanNostrand, Leigha Green

SUNY Campus: SUNY Cobleskill

Presentation Type: Poster

Location: Old Union Hall

Presentation #: 11

Timeslot: Session C 1:45-2:45 PM

Abstract: A nine-year-old thoroughbred male presented with symptoms of “equine head-shaker’s syndrome,” suspected to be mediated by trigeminal neuralgia. This condition is characterized by uncontrollable twitching motions of the head. There is no known cure for this condition. Symptoms can be triggered by a number of environmental or internal factors such as wind and light exposure, allergies, or increased intensity of exercise While the patient’s clinical signs were essentially non-existent at rest, it was significantly enhanced at trot or canter, thus leading this case to be further sub-categorized as gait-mediated trigeminal neuralgia. The patient is observed over four seasons while at rest and in work. Many interventions were attempted to relieve the patient’s symptoms with varying degrees of success. The best success in treating this patient’s symptoms was observed during summer months while being treated with an oral antihistamine medication, Cyproheptadine HCl. The success of this treatment was short-term, only lasting about one month before the patient’s symptoms returned. This horse has not found lasting relief in any of the common treatments for trigeminal neuralgia in horses, signifying a need for more targeted approaches to the disease. The goal of this research project is to explore the diversity of presentation and causes of trigeminal neuralgia in horses.