Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Horses, like humans, may suffer from epilepsy characterized by seizures. Left untreated, this condition may cause serious injury to horses.
Epilepsy is a brain disease that causes seizures, which are characterized by convulsions or uncontrollable trembling and shaking. Although more common in humans, the disease can afflict horses. It is important to diagnose and treat the affliction as a horse suffering from epilepsy can be a danger to itself and others.
Horses get three types of epilepsy. One type is just called epilepsy; the others are benign, or neonatal, epilepsy and idiopathic epilepsy. Some foals and young horses grow out of neonatal or regular epilepsy but it is not known why. Horse Owner's Veterinary Handbook suggests that this could be due to genetics. All three types produce similar symptoms.
Juvenile Epilepsy Syndrome usually occurs between 2 days to 6 months after birth. It is not usually a fatal affliction, and most foals outgrow the problem between 12 and 18 months of age. Although it is unusual, adults have been diagnosed with epilepsy also. It does require some research to determine the best method of treatment for the animal.
