Investigate and Treat the Horse With Seizures

Seizure disorders are amongst the more common of the neurological presentations seen in equine practice. They are relatively easy to recognise, but it is often difficult to identify their precise aetiology. Crucially, owners require appropriate advice regarding the safety aspects since a seizuring adult horse can be extremely dangerous. This presentation will cover the different forms of seizure seen in horses, in particular the more common, generalised or grand mal form, and the less easy to recognise, focal (or partial) seizure, before discussing further investigation and treatment/management and prognosis.

Generalised seizures represent cerebrocortical depolarisation that often is initiated in the motor cortical area that controls the lips and head, before progressing to the neck, trunk and limbs. Consequently, often horses initially present with tremors or spasm of facial musculature, which then spreads to the rest of the body, and might involve other involuntary reflexes, such as urination and defaecation. Consciousness might be lost as can posture; in the most severe cases, the horse enters a state of rhythmic involuntary muscle spasms – status epilepticus – which can result in musculoskeletal trauma. The ictal phase usually only lasts for a few minutes, but commonly horses appear sedated, disorientated and are centrally blind for several hours following an episode before returning to become clinically normal. [...]