How To Help A Horse With Sleep Deprivation
During this phase the horse is even more relaxed but still has some muscle tone and his brain waves charted on an electroencephalogram eeg are slow and large.
How to help a horse with sleep deprivation. Narcolepsy regular deep sleep is as important to the horse as it is to a human being. When horses are not able to lie down and enter rem sleep to refresh themselves they may experience sleep attacks. A new study has found that poor management or physical problems can lead to horses becoming sleep deprived and at risk of serious injury. Next comes slow wave sleep.
However sleep is rarely considered as part of a horse s management plan. Sleep is essential for life. Treatment for the condition should involve identifying the reason of the horse s reluctance to lie down treating any underlying medical conditions and optimising their environment and management. Sleep deprivation occurs in horses that have not received the required daily 30 to 60 minutes of rapid eye movement rem sleep for a week or more.
Learning the symptoms of sleep deprivation in horses and how to help can let every horse owner ensure their horse is well rested. Rem sleep is vital for the health of a horse. The average horse will devote approximately 3 5 hours per day to sleep. Given the importance of sleep it is clear that rem sleep deprivation leads to behavioural changes and related collapses can cause severe injuries.
Sleep deprivation or lack of sleep is not typical in horses but if they right circumstances exist it is possible. The quality and quantity of a horse s sleep directly affects their health and well being. How much sleep horses need horses do not need the same amount of sleep humans do but do need three different types of sleep the slow drowsy period of initial relaxation deeper slow wave sleep and rapid eye movement sleep. Currently based on historical information and response to therapy there seem to be at least six categories of sleep deprivation in horses.
If you suspect a horse of having either narcolepsy or sleep deprivation work with a veterinarian to determine which ailment the animal is suffering from and to implement a management plan. Contrary to popular belief a horse will lie down for a period of deep sleep. To understand sleep deprivation it s necessary to review the three distinct phases of equine sleep. The diagnosis relies on physical examination observation of your horse rsquo s behavior and blood work in order to rule out a physical cause that may be inhibiting your horse from lying down comfortably.
Horses need to complete the full cycle of sleep on a somewhat regular basis to stay healthy. Dangers of sleep deprivation.