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- Narcolepsy can be present in horses at birth or sometimes appears within a few weeks of being born. The condition can also occur spontaneously in adulthood. This sleep disorder can occur in any horse but appears to affect specific breeds, including Lipizzaners, Miniature Horses, Shetland ponies, and Suffolks more often than others.
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Do horses have narcolepsy?
Is narcolepsy a symptom of sleep deprivation in horses?
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What is narcolepsy in equines?
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What causes low narcolepsy in horses?
Sep 14, 2012 · Narcolepsy in horses is a rare and incurable sleep disorder of the central nervous system with Shetlands, miniatures and Suffolk Punches among sufferers.
- What Is Equine Narcolepsy?
- Affected Horses
- Prevalence
- Causes of Narcolepsy
- Alterations in Neurotransmitters
- Genetics
- Clinical Signs
- Diagnosis
- Health History and Physical Exam
- Ruling Out Other Conditions
Sleep disorders, including narcolepsy, are recognized in many different species of mammals – including horses – but are not fully understood. Narcolepsy is a neurological condition that results in extreme sleepinessand rapid eye movements that occur during attacks of sleep. Episodes of narcolepsy commonly take place during periods of inactivity. Na...
Narcolepsy can be present in horses at birth or sometimes appears within a few weeks of being born. The condition can also occur spontaneously in adulthood. This sleep disorder can occur in any horse but appears to affect specific breeds,including Lipizzaners, Miniature Horses, Shetland ponies, and Suffolks more often than others. Narcolepsy-like e...
Narcolepsy is considered rare in horses. The percentage of horses affected by the condition is unknown.
The exact causes of narcolepsy in horses are poorly understood. Potential causal factors involve alterations in neurotransmitter levels and genetics.
Narcolepsy is believed to occur due to alterations in or imbalances in the neurotransmittersthat regulate sleep. Sleep is controlled by complex biological networks in the brain’s hypothalamus that rely on the activities of chemical signalling molecules (neurotransmitters). Neurotransmitters involved in regulating the sleep-wake cycleinclude acetylc...
Genetic and non-genetic factors are believed to contribute to the development of narcolepsy in humans. In genetically related narcoleptic canines, the condition is caused by mutations in the hypocretin receptor 2 gene. Specific genes associated with narcolepsy are yet to be identified in horses. However, the condition has been observed in related e...
The clinical signs of narcolepsy are similar to those associated with sleep deprivation. Common signs of narcolepsy in horses include placing the head in a lowered position, buckling the knees, and sometimes suddenly falling. Affected horses may attempt to rest their heads or hindquarters on fences or other objects, sway, and stumble.
Your veterinarian will diagnose narcolepsy by conducting a physical examination, considering health history, completing diagnostic testing and ruling out other neurological diseases. Narcolepsy is a challenging condition to diagnose because horses may appear normal between narcoleptic episodes,and owners may not be aware of sleep attacks. There are...
A veterinarian will assess your horse’s health and behaviourto make a diagnosis of narcolepsy. Information provided by horse owners and handlers is essential for an accurate diagnosis. Your horse’s breedand any history of narcolepsy (indicating a possible genetic basis) will also be considered during an overall health assessment. Cataplexy (loss of...
A physical examination is critical for ruling out other medical conditionsthat may be causing collapse and sleepiness. Potential causes of collapse other than narcolepsy include other neurologic issues, electrolyte imbalances, and musculoskeletal, metabolic, respiratory, and cardiovascular causes. Specific laboratory testing may be necessary to dia...
Narcolepsy in horses is broadly categorized into two groups: onset at birth or within a few weeks of age, and adult onset. In horses, narcolepsy appears to be breed specific, with familial narcolepsy reported in Lipizzaners, Miniature Horses, Shetland ponies, and Suffolks. Sporadic cases have also been noted in other breeds.
Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological sleep disorder characterized by sudden onset of sleep and collapse. There are two types of syndromes recognized in horses--the first affecting young foals (Neonatal narcolepsy) and the second an acquired condition of adult horses.
Narcoleptic attacks result from the sequential activation of pontine a-1-adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic systems and result in the active paralysis of skeletal muscle. Narcolepsy has been reported in most the popular horse breeds and probably can occur in any breed.
Nov 27, 2020 · A horse that desperately needs paradoxical sleep will begin having “sleep attacks” that may look similar to narcolepsy, but are not: Narcolepsy is where a horse has frequent, uncontrollable...
Dec 21, 2023 · Narcolepsy is different than sleep deprivation. According to equine neurologist Steven Reed, DVM, ACVIM, narcolepsy can be defined as a rare and incurable sleep disorder of the central nervous system characterized by uncontrolled episodes of loss of muscle tone (cataplexy) and sleep.
