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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Bilateral ventral accessory neurectomy in windsucking horses.

Journal:
The Veterinary record
Year:
1980
Authors:
Firth, E C
Species:
horse

Plain-English summary

In this study, researchers looked at a surgical procedure called bilateral neurectomy, which involves cutting a specific nerve in horses to try to stop a behavior known as windsucking. Windsucking is when a horse makes a sucking noise, often while inhaling air, which can be a sign of stress or boredom. The procedure was performed on eight horses, but unfortunately, none of them showed lasting improvement in their windsucking behavior after the surgery.

Abstract

Bilateral neurectomy of the ventral branch of the spinal accessory nerve was performed in an attempt to control windsuckling. There was no permanent improvement in the eight cases described.

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Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7189076/