What Causes Equine Ataxia?

The most common cause of ataxia is

cranial and/or spinal trauma

, followed by cervical vertebral myelopathy/instability (wobblers), infection (EPM, WNV, EEE/WEE/VEE, EHV-1, rabies), and degenerative disease (EDM).

What causes neurological symptoms in horses?

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM)

is the most common infectious cause of neurologic lameness. Rarer infectious causes include tetanus, botulism, Lyme disease, rabies, West Nile virus, equine encephalomyelitis, and equine herpesvirus-1.

What does ataxia mean in horses?

“Ataxic horses are

those that are unable to control the rate, range, or force of their movements resulting in an inconsistent gait

.” A normally functioning body is able to “sense” how its joints, muscles, and tendons are moving, and where all of the components of the body are in relation to each other.

What is spinal ataxia in horses?

The most common type of ataxia in horses is general proprioceptive (also known as spinal)

ataxia resulting from damage to the spinal cord

. Horses display a combination of proprioceptive deficits and paresis (weakness).

Can a horse recover from neurological problems?

If your horse is diagnosed and treated promptly, he may recover fully

; but a severe or longstanding case may cause lasting neurologic deficits. Prevention: So far no vaccine has proved effective against EPM, although research continues. You can take other steps to reduce your horse’s risk: Minimize stress.

What is meant by ataxia?

Ataxia is typically defined as the

presence of abnormal, uncoordinated movements

. This usage describes signs & symptoms without reference to specific diseases. An unsteady, staggering gait is described as an ataxic gait because walking is uncoordinated and appears to be ‘not ordered’.

Can pinched nerve cause ataxia?

Diseases that damage the spinal cord and peripheral nerves that connect your cerebellum to your muscles

also can cause ataxia.

How do you tell if your horse has a pinched nerve?

The most common signs of neuritis of the cauda equina (NCE) may include

dribbling urine

, lack of anal tone, difficulty in passing manure, and decreased ability to move the tail. Horses might also show muscle wasting as well as stumbling, toe-dragging, or incoordination affecting the hind legs.

What are signs of neurological problems?

• Persistent or sudden onset of a headache.
• A headache that changes or is different.
• Loss of feeling or tingling.
• Weakness or loss of muscle strength.
• Loss of sight or double vision.
• Memory loss.
• Impaired mental ability.
• Lack of coordination.

What is the most common neurological disorder?

Headaches

.

Headaches

are one of the most common neurological disorders and can affect anyone at any age.

What are horse wobblers?

A “Wobbler” is

a horse with a damaged spinal cord

. The most obvious clinical sign is an abnormal gait characterized by wobbling, or a horse that looks like he has had a fair amount of tranquilizers. Severe damage can actually result in a horse that may fall and have difficulty getting up.

What causes EDM in horses?

Equine neuroaxonal dystrophy (eNAD) and equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (EDM)

result from abnormalities of specific neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord

. Research suggests that eNAD is the underlying basis for EDM, which is the more advanced form of the disease.

What is EPM horse disease?

EPM is a

neurologic disease that horses get from eating infected opossum feces

. Incoordination, muscle atrophy and loss of feeling around the body are a few signs of illness. Keep your horses healthy by storing grain in sealed bins and controlling opossum populations around your barn.

How do you test for neurological problems in horses?

1. Tail pull. A horse typically will resist being pulled to one side by his tail.
2. Crossing the hind feet. When a horse’s hind feet are crossed when standing, he typically will move the feet quickly to a normal stance.
3. Tight circles. …
4. Walking a serpentine over a curb.

Can a horse recover from EPM without treatment?

If left undiagnosed and untreated, EPM can cause devastating and lasting neurological deficits. The success rate for treated horses is high. Many will improve and a

smaller percentage will recover completely

, but 10-20% of cases may relapse within two years.

What are neurological problems in horses?

Many diseases can affect horses’ central nervous systems, but four of the most common disorders are

cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CSM)

, equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (EDM), and equine herpesvirus-1 myeloencephalopathy (EHM).