June 23, 2024, 11:31 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Does the horse show movement or coordination difficulties? This may be due to a condition named wobbler syndrome, also known as wobbler disease or spinal ataxia. PETBOOK explains the details surrounding the disease and what treatment options are available.
Healthy horses walk smoothly and evenly (apart from jerky movements when romping around or when frightened). If their gait becomes imprecise, uncoordinated, unsteady, or all of the above, wobbler syndrome may be the cause. The symptom complex of spinal ataxia can occur suddenly or as a later consequence of another disease or an accident. The unfortunate thing is that it is not completely curable; however, if detected early enough, the horse still has a chance of leading an almost normal life with its rider.
Symptoms of Wobbler syndrome in horses
Mild cases of spinal ataxia can first be noticed when backing up, with or without a rider in the saddle. In these cases, the horse with wobbler syndrome only walks backwards in a pacing gait. If the disease is more advanced, problems also occur when going forward, as they can only do so in a passing gait. The horse also sways from side to side, with their entire body tending to lean heavily to one side. When riding, affected horses are also unable to keep their rhythm and tend to stumble; some are also unable to judge curves correctly, so they end up colliding with boundaries or fences1
Causes of spinal ataxia
Spinal ataxia is a severe impairment of the spinal cord and brain. The nerve cords can be injured and damaged due to a fall, impact or other accident.
Various diseases can also result in Wobbler syndrome as a later consequence. These include, for example, an infection with the equine herpes virus or Bornasche disease. Genetic influences can also play a role, as can being severely underweight or overweight.
Young horses who grow very quickly may also be prone to constricted nerve canals. This results in them showing symptoms of spinal ataxia; however, this can also return to normal under certain circumstances.
How to diagnose and treat Wobbler syndrome
If one or more of the above symptoms occur, the horse should be taken to a veterinary clinic. There are clinics that specialize in movement disorders, and these should be the first choice for horse owners. Some horses may require transport with a special net if the wobbling is severe. This is done in order to prevent the risk of falling and sustaining injuries inside the trailer.
At the clinic, the horse is thoroughly examined, and a treatment plan is drawn up depending on the cause of the spinal ataxia. If there is an underlying inflammation of the spine, anti-inflammatories and sometimes antibiotics are given. Generally speaking, spinal ataxia cannot be completely cured, but there are some treatment methods that can alleviate the horse’s symptoms and, in some cases, allow new nerve fibers to develop.
These primarily include exercise therapy in the form of ground training, work with balance pads, or extreme trail training. Heat therapy, massages, red light therapy or taping can also help affected horses achieve an improved body feeling and cope better with the impairments2
The right diet for Wobbler syndrome
Unfortunately, a balanced and healthy diet cannot cure spinal ataxia. However, there are diets that can reduce the symptoms. These include enough high-quality hay offered on the ground, not halfway up in a hay net, as feeding from a height can pose challenges for horses affected by this condition. Daily pasture access for grazing is also beneficial for maintaining horse health, particularly for those with wobbler syndrome. Vitamin B supplements, especially those with vitamin B12, help to protect the neural pathways and support the development of new nerve fibers3