Narcolepsy in Horses is Genetic

The idea that horses can have narcolepsy is kind of an inconceivable concept, because narcolepsy is mainly associated with human beings and not with animals. The effect of narcolepsy in horses is much the same as it is in human beings the sleepiness, disorientation, hallucinations, and mood changes, are all evident in horses with narcolepsy.

Horses and Narcolepsy

In horses the most observable trait is that of narcolepsy with cataplexy, the other traits are harder to recognize. The symptoms of narcolepsy are hard to diagnose in a human patient that can tell the physician exactly what is going on and give and extensive medical history, but for animals that is even harder. This disorder is still being examined and studied, but as time goes by the cause still seems to elude physicians as to why narcolepsy has such an effect on the brain. With every new occurrence of narcolepsy showing up in animals physicians are more prone to believe that the brain is similar in more ways than originally thought.

Signs to Look For in Horses for Narcolepsy

depression
lack of interest in food
fatigue
moodiness
weak muscles

With these signs and symptoms being noticed in horses, even from a young age, this can make a breeder believe that the horse is from bad stock and sometime the owner puts the animal down because of such negative qualities. Without there being a proper way to diagnose an animal let alone a horse with narcolepsy, many mistakes are made and eventually the animal suffers massively from this disorder. Veterinarians are working on ways to properly diagnose animals that have the narcoleptic symptoms, almost in the same fashion that physicians are working so earnestly to find a way to properly diagnose and treat this disorder.

Some veterinarians are trying experimental medications high-performance liquid chromatography or HPLC has been used in experiments to determine if the drug will have a negative or positive effect on the horses and if so what dosage and how often should HPLC be used on the horses. Depending on the severity of the narcoleptic symptoms and the weight of the horse that the injection is being given to the HPLC drug can be very effective.

Narcolepsy and horses make a very interesting study the main thing to look for when it comes to the horse species and narcolepsy is constant fatigue, daytime sleepiness, and the unwillingness to do any form of physical activity. With these initial traits being noticed a trainer or owner has a better chance at identifying what is happening to the horse, if not then the horse can cause muscle problems, malnutrition, and could even cause broken bones from falling, or if hallucinating harm other animals and people around them because the animal could be easily spooked. With narcoleptic horses, it can become harder to train them and work with them because of the general lack of interest, and constant fatigue. Horses suffering from narcolepsy have a harder time going about their daily routines and life, without there being a risk to those around them as well as to their selves because of the lack of muscle control when falling asleep or waking up.

Bloodlines

Narcolepsy in horses is rare and often is bred into the horse by the parents that already have the existing narcoleptic gene in their system. Most horses have a form of sleep deprivation caused from over exercise, low food intake, and even missing fellow companions. This sleep disorder is a form of ED or extreme drowsiness, and can be observed when a horse seems to partially collapse and instead of going all the way to the ground and staying there to recuperate from the episode the horse will immediately regain their footing, and the cycle of partially collapsing and regaining their footing will begin all over again. With this occurring muscles can be pulled and harm can also be done to the ligaments in the fore legs and hind quarters.

These injuries can lead to even worse problems in the long run; they can even make a horse come up lame and no longer able to be ridden. Narcolepsy on horses can be just as hard if not even worse due to the fact that when horses sleep they sleep while standing; if they were to lie down for an extended period of time the weight and pressure being exuded could crush internal organs and break bones.

Horses suffering from narcolepsy, like human beings have lapses in time where they fall asleep and their bodies tense up causing a form of sleep paralysis, so if a horse has a cataplectic attack and suffers from a sleep paralysis, and falls then the damage can be irreparable and sometimes even fatal.

The narcolepsy in horses can even cause harm to the owner or person that is riding the horse because if a sudden attack should happen while riding say down a steep mountain side, the rider would be thrown from the saddle and become injured. So before riding a horse that has all of the symptoms of narcolepsy have it checked out by a veterinarian, to make sure that the horse is properly diagnosed and all safety measurements are taken before training or riding the horse.

While inspecting the horse make sure that it is receiving enough nighttime sleep and is not disturbed, especially if that particular horse is a mare that is about to foal, or give birth. Rest is needed for such a difficult and delicate situation as giving birth for a mare as well as the young colt that is being born. The narcoleptic trait will not be immediately noticeable in new born colts because they require a lot of rest, so even if a young colt is sleeping during the day that does not mean that they have narcolepsy.

The earliest age to begin looking for the narcolepsy trait in a horse is around a year and a half, by then the horse should be healthy enough to withstand going through the day without needing to stop and take a rest. If the symptoms of narcolepsy are there go to your local veterinarian and ask what narcolepsy in horses is? With the help of a vet then the animal will receive the attention and help that is needed to make sure that the animal remains healthy.

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that can begin at any age and continues throughout life. It is a sleep disorder, involving irregular patterns in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, and significant disruptions of the normal sleep/wake cycle.

Onset typically occurs in pre-teens/teens or the early twenties, but can also happen later in life. Narcolepsy is believed to affect approximately 1 in 2,000 people in the United States. It affects both sexes equally and occurs throughout the world, but is underrecognized and underdiagnosed. Once established, narcolepsy is generally stable and can most often be effectively treated. Lifespan is not affected.

Narcolepsy with cataplexy is caused by the destruction of hypocretin-producing cells in the hypothalamus region of the brain. Hypocretin (also known as orexin) is a neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of the sleep/wake cycle as well as other bodily functions (e.g. blood pressure and metabolism). Narcolepsy with cataplexy is an auto-immune disorder. More research is needed to determine the exact triggers behind narcolepsy without cataplexy.

Diagnosis of narcolepsy is usually confirmed in a sleep lab through a series of tests, which typically includes an overnight polysomnogram (PSG or sleep study) to rule out other causes of EDS and detect any unusual REM patterns. The Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MLST), or daytime nap test, follows, which measures the rapidity of sleep onset and how quickly REM sleep follows. The MLST is the most widely accepted diagnostic test for narcolepsy. A blood test is sometimes used to determine if there is a genetic predisposition towards the disorder. Finally, some research facilities measure the level of hypocretin in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This is rare and only used in certain situations.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM V) divides narcolepsy into Narcolepsy Type 1, or narcolepsy with cataplexy, and Narcolepsy Type 2, or narcolepsy without cataplexy.

Symptoms include:

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) is described as a persistent sense of mental cloudiness (brain fog), lack of energy, or extreme exhaustion. It includes daytime sleep attacks that may occur with or without warning and may be uncontrollable, and persistent drowsiness, which can continue for prolonged periods of time. Microsleeps, or fleeting, involuntary moments of sleep that may intrude into the waking state, are also experienced as part of EDS for many people. Naps can help people with narcolepsy (PWNs) feel refreshed for a short period of time before EDS symptoms return.

Cataplexy, the second major symptom of narcolepsy, is nearly unique to the disease. It is a sudden loss of muscle tone, usually triggered by emotions such as laughter, surprise, fear, or anger. Cataplexy occurs while the person is awake and causes feelings of weakness and a loss of voluntary muscle control. Cataplexy may occur more often during times of stress or fatigue. Attacks can involve only a slight feeling of weakness in one part of the body (i.e. sagging facial muscles, nodding head, buckling knees, garbled speech, etc.) or an immediate and total full body collapse. Although someone suffering a severe cataplexy attack may appear unconscious, they are actually awake and alert. Attacks can last from a few seconds up to several minutes. Cataplexy is related to the loss of muscle tone usually associated with dreaming or REM sleep; as protection against acting out one’s dreams, muscles become immobile or paralyzed. In cataplexy, this protection is triggered inappropriately during wakefulness.

Disrupted or fragmented nighttime sleep is sleep disrupted by periods of wakefulness, vivid dreams, sleep talking, and movement. PWNs typically have no difficulty initially falling asleep.

Hypnagogic (during sleep onset) and hypnopompic (during waking) hallucinations are vivid, realistic, and often frightening dreams that occur on the edge of sleep and wakefulness.

Sleep paralysis is the temporary inability to move, occurring in the transition between sleep and wakefulness.

If you think you have narcolepsy, take the Epworth Sleepiness Scale which can help assess daytime sleepiness.

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