The administration of drugs such as atropine and physostigmine salicylate can induce narcoleptic episodes in affected horses. Cataplexy is the best diagnostic criteria for narcolepsy, but narcolepsy can also occur without cataplexy. Narcolepsy can be challenging to diagnose and there are currently no established criteria for definitive diagnosis. They may exhibit swaying and frequent stumbling. Affected horses may be observed to frequently rest their heads or hindquarters on fences or other objects. What are the clinical signs of narcolepsy?Ĭlinical signs of narcolepsy can range from lowering of the head to buckling of the knees and sometimes sudden collapse. The exact cause of narcolepsy in horses is unknown. Horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) have been reported to exhibit narcolepsy-like episodes. Sporadic cases have also been noted in other breeds. In horses, narcolepsy appears to be breed specific, with familial narcolepsy reported in Lipizzaners, Miniature Horses, Shetland ponies, and Suffolks. Narcolepsy in horses is broadly categorized into two groups: onset at birth or within a few weeks of age, and adult onset. Affected animals may also exhibit a temporary lack of muscle tone and reflexes (cataplexy) that can be caused by stimuli such as sounds, feeding time, saddling, leading, and other environmental triggers. These episodes often occur during periods of inactivity. It results in excessive sleepiness during the day and “attacks” of sleep that are accompanied by rapid eye movements. Narcolepsy is a rapid eye movement (REM) sleep disorder. Sleep disorders have been reported in many mammalian species, but are generally rare and not well understood. Episodes that look like narcolepsy are often the result of sleep deprivation. The exact cause of narcolepsy in horses is unknown and there is no cure.Familial narcolepsy has been reported in some breeds, with sporadic cases noted in other breeds.Horses with narcolepsy may exhibit a temporary lack of muscle tone and reflexes (cataplexy).Narcolepsy is a rapid eye movement (REM) sleep disorder that results in excessive sleepiness during the day and “attacks” of sleep that are accompanied by rapid eye movements and always triggered by external stimuli such as environmental sounds, being startled, new situations, play, feeding, or stressful events.
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