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Abstract

A six year old thoroughbred gelding presented with a two year history of somnolence and altered behavior of two years duration. In the three months immediately preceding presentation episodes of sleep attacks and accompanying sleep terrors were observed. There had been no evidence of recumbent or paradoxical sleep during this period. An examination of the upper airways revealed evidence of palatal instability (PI). An oral palatopharyngoplasty (OPP) was performed to reduce this instability (PI). Clinical observations in the eight months following surgery suggested a possible link between PI, upper airways obstruction (UAO) and a horse’s ability to achieve adequate paradoxical sleep.