UTILIZATION OF THE THERAPY PHYSICAL IN HORSES WITH FACIAL PARALYSIS

Abstract

Facial paralysis is an injury that assaults horses, not very unusual in veterinary. It occurs mainly because of direct or indirect traumas over the facial nerve, that goes over the masseter muscle, having only skin an tissue to protect it. Paralyses are common in cases of compression because of the contention of the animal head on the ground. This work reports the case of a PSI mare with four years, that was taken care of in the Veterinarian Hospital of the Veterinary School of the Federal University of Goiás, presenting signs of facial nerve injury; and a cart horse that was taken care at Racecourse of the Pond of Jockey Club of Goiás, with 10 years, debilitated and having facial habronemiasis. These animals received therapy physical, using cinesiotherapy and electrical stimulation, for 60 days, obtaining a satisfactory effect like improve of the left facial muscle, return to symmetrical the left nostril, discreet ptosis in the underling lip, normalization of the action to feed and improve of the facial esthetics. Concluding that therapy physical was a efficient method of treatment injuries in the facial nerve, like compression, helping in the return of the disturbs of muscle function and to the welfare of these animals.

Key words: Animal, cinesiotherapy, electrical stimulation, neurology, rehabilitation.