Can Horses Develop Narcolepsy?

Horses with narcolepsy may exhibit a temporary lack of muscle tone and reflexes (cataplexy). Familial narcolepsy has been reported in some breeds, with sporadic cases noted in other breeds. The exact cause of narcolepsy in horses is unknown and there is no cure. Narcolepsy is uncommon in horses.

How rare is narcolepsy in horses?

Narcolepsy is a rare and severe sleep disorder that has been reported in many mammals, writes Lee Benson in the March edition of The Horse. In humans, it affects approximately one or two in 2,000; in horses, the incidence is probably even lower.

What causes sudden onset of narcolepsy?

It is often triggered by sudden, strong emotions such as laughter, fear, anger, stress, or excitement.

Can narcolepsy come on suddenly?

Symptoms may develop slowly over a number of years, or suddenly over the course of a few weeks. Narcolepsy is usually a long-term (chronic) condition, although some of the symptoms may improve as you get older. You should see a GP if you think you may have narcolepsy so they can find out what’s causing your symptoms.

What is horse cataplexy?

In humans, narcolepsy causes excessive drowsiness during the day (sometimes a sleep-attack occurs), cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone), hallucinations, and sleep paralysis. In the horse and other mammals cataplexy is the most frequently observed symptom. Excessive drowsiness can occur but is harder to observe.

What causes narcolepsy in a horse?

This study suggests ‘narcolepsy’ of adult horses is not a neurological disorder but rather a REM-sleep deficiency due to recumbent sleep deprivation caused by illness, ethological deficits or husbandry shortcomings.

How do I know if my horse has narcolepsy?

What are the clinical signs of narcolepsy? Clinical signs of narcolepsy can range from lowering of the head to buckling of the knees and sometimes sudden collapse. Affected horses may be observed to frequently rest their heads or hindquarters on fences or other objects. They may exhibit swaying and frequent stumbling.

What are the 5 signs of narcolepsy?

They include:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness. People with narcolepsy fall asleep without warning, anywhere, anytime.
• Sudden loss of muscle tone.
• Sleep paralysis.
• Changes in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
• Hallucinations.

What can be mistaken for narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is often misdiagnosed as other conditions that can have similar symptoms, including:

• Depression.
• Anxiety.
• Other psychologic/psychiatric disorders.
• Insomnia.
• Obstructive sleep apnea.

How fast can narcolepsy develop?

Symptoms typically begin to occur between the ages of 10 and 30, although narcolepsy can occur at any age. Narcolepsy can be difficult to diagnose because some of its symptoms, such as fatigue, are common to many conditions. The average time between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis is seven years.

Is narcolepsy caused by anxiety?

Anxiety disorders, especially panic attacks and social phobias, often affect patients with narcolepsy. Anxiety and mood symptoms could be secondary complications of the chronic symptoms of narcolepsy. Recent studies have shown that narcolepsy is caused by defective hypocretin signaling.

What is Type 2 narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy type 2 (narcolepsy without cataplexy) is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and abnormal manifestations of REM sleep on polysomnography and multiple sleep latency testing. Cataplexy is absent.

What happens if narcolepsy goes untreated?

When left untreated, narcolepsy can be socially disabling and isolating. It often leads to the onset of depression. Type 2 diabetes mellitus may occur more often in people with narcolepsy. Making lifestyle changes can help manage the symptoms.

What is equine narcolepsy?

What is narcolepsy in horses? Narcolepsy is a rare and incurable sleep disorder of the central nervous system (CNS). It is characterised by spontaneous “sleep attacks” at inappropriate times – usually accompanied by an uncontrollable loss of muscle tone (known as cataplexy).

What are neurological symptoms in horses?

Lack of coordination, weakness or paralysis of the hind limbs, muscle twitching, impaired vision, head pressing, aimless wandering, convulsions, circling and coma are some of the severe neurologic effects. Horses typically have non-neurologic signs, too, such loss of appetite and a depressed attitude.

What is the difference between narcolepsy and cataplexy?

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological condition producing disruption to the normal sleep pattern. This produces excessive sleepiness. Narcolepsy may occur with or without cataplexy. Cataplexy is a sudden loss of muscle tone and power in response to strong emotion – it always and only occurs as part of narcolepsy .

Can narcolepsy resolve itself?

Narcolepsy is chronic, which means it will be with you for a long time. Though it isn’t a progressive disease like multiple sclerosis, its symptoms can change over time. And certain things you do or don’t do could lead to more sleep attacks.

What stage does narcolepsy occur?

People with narcolepsy do not necessarily experience sleep stages the way someone without narcolepsy does. While someone without the condition will first enter non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and eventually fall into rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, someone with narcolepsy falls immediately into REM sleep.

Why does my horse almost fall down when sleeping?

“Falling asleep on the feet” is a relatively common sign in horses that are actually sleep deprived. Horses must lie down periodically to get deep sleep. If they cannot do this, they become sleep-deprived.

How long does a narcolepsy episode last?

Attacks often last from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. You remain aware during the attack. During the attack, your head falls forward, your jaw drops, and your knees may buckle.

What are the three main characteristics of narcolepsy?

• Excessive Daytime Sleepiness. Ghislain & Marie David de Lossy / Getty Images.
• Hypnagogic Hallucinations. These involve vivid, often frightening hallucinations that occur in the transitions between sleep and wakefulness, with onset most likely as a person is falling asleep or waking up.
• Sleep Paralysis.
• Cataplexy.