What is it about?
Stimulation of the infraorbital branch of the trigeminal nerve with electroacupuncture was used to treat trigeminal mediated headshaking in 6 horses and ponies. All of the horses showed a positive response and in the following year 3 of the six horses required only a single treatment in the spring thus showing longer-term remission.
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Why is it important?
This treatment can be performed by ambulatory veterinary surgeons in their daily work as the equipment is inexpensive and portable. It avoids the need for these distressed horses to travel to a veterinary practice. Ultrasound guidance is not necessary for accurate needle placement. The technique can be mastered following a single demonstration and experience of acupuncture is not necessary for successful treatment. The advantage is that it makes the treatment more widely available and many more horses could be treated.
Perspectives
This is just the beginning of ongoing studies into the use of electroacupuncture for the treatment of neuropathic pain by the author. The treatment does not work for every horse but it is minimally invasive and achieved long term remission in 3 of the 6 horses. It is important that other possible causes of headshaking are ruled out or treated before using this treatment.
Sue Devereux
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Electroacupuncture as an additional treatment for headshaking in six horses, Equine Veterinary Education, July 2017, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/eve.12776.
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