ALL IN THE mind
Knowing the signs of a nervous system disorder can mean the difference between a positive or poor prognosis. Let’s take a closer look
Photos: Bob Atkins. With thanks to Rossdales Equine Hospital
for their help with this feature, rossdales.com
Our experts
Catriona Mackenzie BVMS MSc CertAVP(EM) DipECEIM MRCVS is a member of the medicine team at Rossdales Equine Hospital. She graduated from the University of Glasgow Veterinary School in 2006 and has worked in Newmarket, Kentucky and Australia. She’s a member of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine (ECEIM) and an RCVS recognised specialist.
Mathew Harber BVSc MRCVS joined Rossdales Equine Hospital as a member of the stud team in 2018 and is currently undertaking an internship at the Rossdales Hospital and Diagnostic Centre. He has a particular interest in stud medicine and plans to undertake further studies in this area.
Your horse’s nervous system is made up of his brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. Responsible for a number of roles – from involuntary actions he doesn’t think about, such as sight, hearing and taste, to voluntary or conscious actions, such as movement and coordination – it’s fair to say the neurological system’s complex.
A problem affecting any part of this system is commonly referred to as a neurological condition. However, beyond this shared umbrella, the nature of the system means many of these conditions share very little in common. So, we answer some of your questions and take a look at the most common examples.
DID YOU KNOW?
One of the main concerns with equine neurological conditions is that, due to their size, they can make the horse dangerous to be around. This is why it’s important to contact your vet if you suspect anything.
What are the causes?
There are a vast number of conditions that affect the equine nervous system, but they tend to share some common causes.
These include...
• infections, either bacterial (such as tetanus), viral (such as equine herpes virus-1) or parasitic – though the latter is rare in the UK
• metabolic issues, which cause chemical changes in the body that ultimately impact on neurological function
• trauma to the head or neck
• neoplastic tumours, which may
• congenital or developmental
• degenerative conditions, such
develop in the nervous system or originate in structures close to it and impact neurological function conditions, which often cause symptoms in young horses as joint disease or arthritis in the neck and back, which may cause compression of the spinal cord