Equine Stroke

Equine stroke, while rare, does occasionally happen. Most horse owners will not ever have to concern themselves with the signs and symptoms of stroke in their equine companions, but owners of the older equine are wise to educate themselves on the illness and become familiar with at least some of the signs of stroke.

  1. Significance

    • Stroke affects the brain, which makes it one of the most critical illnesses a horse can experience. In most cases, stroke is a bleeding within the brain from a major blood vessel. The blood spreads and clots, putting pressure on various parts of the brain, which then affects the rest of the body accordingly. In some cases, the blood flow to the brain is cut off, causing immediate reaction, injury and even death.

    Time Frame

    • Most strokes are sudden and very obvious. The horse will begin thrashing about, flailing and hitting itself and anything in its way, as its brain malfunctions. This can be incredibly dangerous for everyone involved, as the horse is a large animal which will be in full panic mode. Swelling of the limbs may occur, the animal may lose bowel control, and may be unable to stand or hold its head up. This can all occur very rapidly, in a matter of minutes, and has a very poor prognosis. In rare cases, when the stroke is mild, the animal will be distressed, with a high pulse and breathing rate, and possibly a fever, but no other signs of illness. In these cases, the horse may recover with immediate medical attention.

    Identification

    • Only a professional veterinarian can accurately identify a stroke, but if the horse is showing severe neurological symptoms--such as inability to maintain balance; hold up its head; or control its bowel functions--then chances are your horse is having a stroke or some other similar cerebral event. If your horse shows any of these symptoms, immediate medical attention is an absolute must.

    Effects

    • Unfortunately, the most common result of equine stroke is death, either by natural cause or euthanasia. In the cases of severe stroke, euthanasia is really the only option, as the physical damage will be so great the horse will not be able to stand or function. In the case of mild stroke, the animal may be saved, but its usefulness as a riding or performance animal after recovery will be extremely limited.

    Considerations

    • When a horse has suffered a stroke, it is important to be realistic about the future of the animal. In most stroke cases, the horse will already be old. Once a veterinarian has been consulted and a diagnosis is made, the owner needs to make their decision about the horse's future based on the reality of the situation. Horses are mobile animals that must be able to use their legs to live a happy life. If the quality of life of the animal will suffer too greatly, euthanasia is the humane choice.