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(c) Dunkel et al 2025 CC BY 4.0 |
A recent study from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has indicated that electroacupuncture
could assist horses suffering from trigeminal-mediated headshaking (TMHS), with nearly two-thirds of treated horses showing improvement.TMHS is a neurological disorder that causes horses to involuntarily shake or flick their heads. The condition is linked to the trigeminal nerve, which may become overly sensitive and react strongly to normal stimuli such as sunlight, wind, or touch. Affected horses may exhibit signs such as repetitive headshaking, snorting, or rubbing their noses.
TMHS is painful and potentially dangerous, often making riding difficult. In severe cases, it may lead to euthanasia if quality of life cannot be maintained. The exact cause remains unknown, and there is currently no cure.
Electroacupuncture (EA) is a treatment combining traditional acupuncture with electrical stimulation. Fine needles are inserted at specific points, and a mild current is passed through them. This is thought to influence nerve activity and pain perception, which can be beneficial in conditions involving nerve dysfunction like TMHS.
Unlike more invasive nerve therapies such as PENS (percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), EA can be performed in a regular stable environment and does not usually require sedation or specialist equipment.
The research was led by Professor Bettina Dunkel, Head of RVC Equine, with final-year veterinary student Georgia Hildon and four external collaborators. It is the largest study to date examining the effectiveness of electroacupuncture for TMHS.
In this retrospective study, information was gathered from veterinary records and follow-up with owners of cases treated between 2015 and 2024. Data was available from a total of 179 electroacupuncture treatments on 42 horses.
Information collected included the horse’s medical history and TMHS severity, the number of treatments given and the changes in severity of headshaking before and after treatment (graded 0–3).
Analysis of the data showed that EA was well tolerated by all horses, with no significant complications reported. The researchers found:
· 64% of horses improved after their final treatment.
· 33% had complete resolution of headshaking signs.
· 31% showed no change, and 4.8% worsened after treatment.
· Average headshaking severity dropped from grade 3 (severe) to grade 1 (mild).
This study supports electroacupuncture as a safe option for managing TMHS - especially for horses that do not respond to traditional treatments.
While it doesn’t work for every horse, the results are promising, given how challenging TMHS is to treat.
The researchers suggested that refining the treatment protocol—such as adjusting the duration or frequency of EA—could lead to even better results. They emphasise that it is also important to rule out other possible causes of headshaking (e.g., dental problems, allergies) before starting EA.
Professor Dunkel said: “Electroacupuncture is a viable treatment option for horses suffering from this devastating disease. We are very pleased with the results of the study and hope that it will encourage veterinarians and horse owners to pursue this treatment option.”
For more details, see:
Dunkel, B., Hildon, G.L., Coumbe, K. M., Busuttil, E., von Schweinitz, D. & Devereux, S. (2025) Electroacupuncture as a treatment for suspected trigeminal nerve-mediated head-shaking in 42 horses.
Equine Veterinary Education, 00, 1–7.
https://doi.org/10.1111/eve.14135