Dominic Stone
Shivers, also known as equine shivers, is a neuromuscular disease in horses that causes trembling of the tail and thigh muscles, as well as a flexed and trembling hind limb. The disease primarily affects one or both hind limbs and the tail, resulting in involuntary spasms of the muscles in these areas. While the exact cause of shivers is unknown, it is believed to be associated with nerve damage in the cerebellum, a part of the brain that controls motor function. Affected horses may experience muscle atrophy, particularly in the thigh muscles, leading to hindquarter weakness and difficulty in backing up. Male horses that are 16.3 hands in height and taller are at a higher risk for developing shivers. While there is no cure for the disease, early diagnosis and supportive care can help manage the symptoms and slow down its progression.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Shivers is a neurologic disease characterised by an abnormal gait when backing up. |
| Cause | The cause of shivers is still not well understood. Research shows that affected horses have nerve damage in a specific area of the brain called the cerebellum. |
| Symptoms | Involuntary spasms of the muscles in the pelvic region, pelvic limbs, and tail. Trembling of the tail while held erect, trembling of the thigh muscles, and a flexed and trembling hind limb. |
| Diagnosis | Shivers is straightforward to diagnose when signs are clear, but milder cases are more difficult to diagnose. Blood work can be helpful in ruling out electrolyte abnormalities that can directly lead to trembling or twitching of muscles. |
| Treatment | There is no specific treatment for shivers, but affected horses appear to have fewer episodes when kept in consistent work and time in a stall is minimised. Additional dietary vitamin E and selenium are often added following diagnosis. |
| Prevention | N/A |
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What You'll Learn
- Shivers is a neurological disease that affects the cerebellum, causing abnormal gait
- There is no cure, but early diagnosis and supportive care can help slow its progression
- Symptoms include muscle atrophy, particularly in the thighs, leading to hindquarter weakness
- Episodes can be triggered by stress or excitement, like being led out into an open space
- Shivers is more common in male horses over 16.3 hands tall and draft horse breeds
Shivers is a neurological disease that affects the cerebellum, causing abnormal gait
Shivers, a neurological disease, is characterised by an abnormal gait in horses when they are backing up. The disease is caused by damage to specific nerve cells, called Purkinje cells, in a particular area of the cerebellum. The cerebellum is the part of the brain that controls motor function, including the coordination, balance, and movement of the horse.
The clinical signs of shivers usually begin before the horse reaches five years of age, and the severity of the symptoms tends to increase over time. Male horses that are 16.3 hands in height or taller are at a higher risk of developing the disease. Horses with shivers may excel at forward movement but experience difficulty when lifting their hind limbs or backing up. This is because different neural pathways regulate the slower, learned movements involved in backing up, compared to the faster movements of forward gaits.
The disease can cause muscle atrophy, particularly in the thigh muscles, leading to weakness in the hindquarters. Affected horses may fall or stumble when sleeping, resulting in injuries to their fore fetlocks and knees. They may also exhibit an abnormal stance with a wider base to maintain stability. In some cases, excessive sweating has been observed. While there is no cure or specific treatment for shivers, affected horses appear to have fewer episodes when they are kept active and their time spent in a stall is minimised.
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There is no cure, but early diagnosis and supportive care can help slow its progression
Shivers is a neuromuscular disease in horses characterised by trembling of the tail, trembling of the thigh muscles, and a flexed and trembling hind limb. The disease primarily affects one or both hind limbs and the tail, with periodic, involuntary spasms of the muscles in the pelvic region, pelvic limbs, and tail. While there is no cure for this condition, early diagnosis and supportive care can help slow its progression and make affected horses more comfortable.
In the early stages, signs of shivers may be intermittent or occasional, making diagnosis difficult. Clinical signs often begin at a young age and progress in severity. Male horses that are 16.3 hands in height and taller are at higher risk for shivers than other horses. Horses displaying classic shivers gait abnormalities have been found to have cerebellar Purkinje cell axonal degeneration. The cerebellum is the portion of the brain that controls motor function.
A diagnosis of shivers is based on clinical signs and ruling out other potential causes through lameness and neurological examinations, along with other diagnostic testing. It is important to recognise that many horses may demonstrate hyperflexion when asked to pick up their hind feet, but they back up normally. These horses likely have an underlying orthopedic issue.
While there is no cure or specific treatment for shivers, affected horses appear to have fewer episodes when kept in consistent work, and time in a stall is minimised. Additional dietary vitamin E and selenium are often added following diagnosis. Research suggests that the antioxidant vitamin E, which has important roles in healthy nerve and muscle tissue, may be especially critical in horses at risk for shivers.
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Symptoms include muscle atrophy, particularly in the thighs, leading to hindquarter weakness
Shivers is a neurological disease that affects horses, causing abnormal gait when backing up. The disease is progressive, with clinical signs often first appearing before the horse is five years old and worsening over time. Male horses that are 16.3 hands in height or taller are at a higher risk for shivers than other horses.
One of the most prominent symptoms of shivers is muscle atrophy, particularly in the thighs, which can lead to hindquarter weakness. This muscle atrophy can progress to generalized muscle atrophy as the disease worsens. The horse may also experience painful cramps and uncontrolled shaking, which can inhibit movement. Hindquarter weakness was observed in 58% of horses with shivers, with 11 out of 19 horses exhibiting this symptom.
The disease is characterized by damage to specific regions of the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls motor function and coordination, balance, and movement. This damage results in abnormal firing of flexor and extensor muscles, causing the jerking, spastic motions associated with shivers. Vitamin E and selenium are often added to the horse's diet following a diagnosis to help manage the condition.
In terms of diagnosis, shivers can be challenging to identify in its early stages as the signs may be intermittent or occasional. Mild cases of shivers may only present when the horse is asked to move backward, exhibiting trembling in the hind limbs and sudden jerks of the tail. More severe cases will display a backward gait with the hind legs lifted abnormally high, followed by spasming of the muscles in the hind limbs and tail, leading to trembling or "shivers".
If you suspect your horse is experiencing shivers or displaying similar symptoms, it is important to contact your veterinarian for a thorough examination and diagnosis.
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Episodes can be triggered by stress or excitement, like being led out into an open space
Shivers is a neurologic disease in horses that affects their movement, particularly when backing up. It is caused by damage to specific nerve cells (Purkinje cells) in the cerebellum, which is the part of the brain that controls motor function. Episodes of shivering can be triggered by stress or excitement, such as when a horse is led out of its box into an open space.
During an episode, the horse may extend its hind limbs into a stretched-out or saw-horse stance, with the feet placed further back than normal. This hyperextension of the hock and stifle can cause instability if the horse cannot regain control of its movements. The horse's thigh and flank muscles may quiver, and the tail may tremble or jerk upwards. These signs usually subside after a few minutes, but they will return if the horse is backed up again.
In more severe cases, the horse may experience painful cramps and uncontrolled shaking, which can inhibit movement. Severely affected horses may also develop muscle atrophy in the hind limbs, leading to weakness and a reluctance to lie down when confined. They may fall or stumble when sleeping, resulting in bruising on the fore fetlocks and knees.
While there is no cure or specific treatment for shivers, affected horses appear to have fewer episodes when kept in consistent work, and time spent in a stall is minimized. Additional dietary vitamin E and selenium are often added following a diagnosis, as vitamin E plays an important role in healthy nerve and muscle tissue.
It is important to note that shivering in horses can also be caused by exposure to cold or electrolyte abnormalities, so it is crucial to rule out these factors before assuming the horse is affected by the disease known as "shivers."
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Shivers is more common in male horses over 16.3 hands tall and draft horse breeds
Shivers is a progressive neuromuscular condition in horses, characterised by an abnormal, jerky gait when backing up. It is caused by damage to specific nerve cells (Purkinje cells) in the cerebellum, a part of the brain that regulates coordination, balance, and movement. While the exact cause of Shivers is unknown, it is thought to have a genetic component due to its prevalence in certain breeds.
Male horses that are over 16.3 hands tall are at a higher risk for Shivers than other horses. In addition, draft horse breeds, including Belgian Draft Horses, are more susceptible to the condition. A study found that 19% of Belgian Draft Horses examined exhibited signs of Shivers, making it a relatively common condition in this breed.
Several factors contribute to the increased susceptibility of male horses over 16.3 hands tall and draft horse breeds to Shivers. Firstly, gender plays a role, as geldings are three times more likely to be affected by Shivers than mares. The protective effect of estrogen in mares may contribute to this disparity. Secondly, height is a significant factor, as taller horses have a higher risk of developing Shivers compared to shorter horses, with the condition rarely seen in ponies. The increased height of male horses over 16.3 hands tall may further elevate their risk.
Additionally, draft horse breeds, such as Belgian Draft Horses, tend to be taller and have a higher prevalence of Shivers compared to lighter horse breeds. The combination of height and breed factors may further increase the susceptibility of male horses over 16.3 hands tall within the draft horse category. While the exact genetic or hereditary reasons for this predisposition are not fully understood, it highlights a specific vulnerability within this subgroup.
To summarise, Shivers is more prevalent in male horses over 16.3 hands tall and draft horse breeds due to a combination of gender, height, and breed factors. The condition is characterised by abnormal gait and caused by nerve damage in the cerebellum. While the exact cause remains unknown, the identification of these risk factors helps owners and veterinarians recognise, manage, and provide supportive care for affected horses.
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Frequently asked questions
Shivers is a neurological disease that affects the horse's muscles, causing them to tremble or "shiver". It is caused by damage to specific nerve cells (Purkinje cells) in the cerebellum, which is the part of the brain that controls movement.
The classic symptom of shivers is a trembling or shaking of the tail and hind limbs. Horses with shivers may also exhibit muscle atrophy, particularly in the thigh muscles, which can lead to hindquarter weakness. Other symptoms include hyperflexion and hyperextension of the hind limbs, an erect tail, and leg spasms.
Shivers can be diagnosed through clinical signs and ruling out other potential causes. There is no specific diagnostic test, but blood work can help rule out electrolyte abnormalities that can cause muscle trembling. The Whole Horse Exam (WHE) is also recommended to check for fever or poor appetite.
Currently, there is no cure or specific treatment for shivers. However, early diagnosis and supportive care, including additional dietary vitamin E and selenium, can help make affected horses more comfortable and may slow the progression of the disease. Keeping the horse in consistent work and minimising stall time may also reduce the frequency of episodes.
