Trigeminal-mediated headshaking in horses: prevalence, impact, and management strategies

Abstract

Trigeminal-mediated headshaking is a little-understood neuropathic facial pain condition of the horse. The condition may affect around 1% of the equine population to a degree of severity sufficient to require veterinary attention. As a pain condition, this represents a significant welfare issue. Horses are usually more severely affected at exercise which can leave them unable to perform, or even dangerous to ride and handle. With little known about the condition and variable response to treatments, severely affected horses are often euthanized. This review article considers the literature on trigeminal-mediated headshaking, focusing on what is known, and indeed not known, about the prevalence of the condition and its impact. The current published management options are considered, along with their challenges and limitations.

Keywords:

• neurology
• neurological disorder
• neuropathic pain
• facial pain
• welfare

Acknowledgments

The University of Bristol receives a fee, in majority for use to fund headshaking research, from training other centers in the use of EquiPENS™.

Disclosure

The author reports no conflicts of interest in this work.