This therapy is called PENS (percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) and was pioneered by Veronica Roberts from Bristol Vet School. PENS therapy aims to desensitise the overactive sensory nerve in a headshaking horse’s head. It can be used for all headshaking horses that do not respond to a face net or nose net. Horses are checked for internal pathology such as infections, tooth problems, abscesses and growths that might be causing head pain or nerve damage before PENS treatment is given.
PENS is well-tolerated in headshaking horses and is performed with local anaesthetic and mild sedation at the Hospital. A course of three procedures are given with 5-7 days between the first two, and 10-14 days between the second and third treatments.
For more information or to discuss if PENS therapy would be suitable for your headshaking horse please ring the Hospital on 01428 727200 and ask to speak to one of our medicine specialist vets, Andy, Victoria or Jamie (https://liphookequinehospital.co.uk/all-the-team/equine-hospital-vets/).
We are also hosting an informative evening talk on the 8th June 2016 (for more information click here) and we would welcome any and all horse owners with an interest in headshaking to come along.