Alterations in Metabolic Status and Headshaking Behavior Following Intravenous Administration of Hypertonic Solutions in Horses with Trigeminal-Mediated Headshaking

Horses with trigeminal-mediated headshaking syndrome suffer from pain and electric-shock-like sensation in the nerve that runs across their faces (trigeminal nerve), leading to violent head jerking that impairs their performance and quality of life. This condition has no curative treatments and often leads to euthanasia of the animal. Changes in blood components (pH, electrolytes) are known to affect nerve pain. To investigate this, three different kinds of fluids (with varying pH and electrolytes) were given in the vein to horses affected with trigeminal-mediated headshaking. The headshaking behaviors and changes in blood composition were assessed after each treatment. Changes in blood composition were transient, and there was a greater than 50% decrease in headshakes/minute with a high pH treatment. The limited effects following these fluids were likely due to normal mechanisms of regulation of blood levels of these salts and minerals. Further investigations of changes in electrolytes that might affect nerve firing should be explored