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Equine Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (EPSM Or EPSSM)
Type 1 | Type 2 |
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Inherited Muscle biopsy Positive genetic test results | Cause is unknown Muscle biopsy |
Often seen in halter horses | Quarter Horses and Warmbloods Often seen in horses used for barrel racing, reining and cutting |
Muscle stiffness Sweating Reluctance to move Horses seem lazy Shifting lameness Tense abdomen Tremors in flank area Stretch out as if to urinate as soon as they stop moving. Sweat profusely Firm, hard muscles, particularly over their hindquarters Paw and roll immediately following exercise History of numerous episodes of muscle stiffness Coffee colored urine | Muscle atrophy Typing up (episodes of muscle pain, stiffness, reluctance to move) inability to rise stiff hind limb gait poor performance Gait abnormality Sore muscles Drop in energy level painful firm back and hindquarter muscles reluctance to collect and engage the hindquarters poor rounding over fences slow onset of atrophy especially when out of work |
Signs are most often seen in horses after 10-20 minutes of light exercise upon initial start of training or following a lay-up period when they receive little active turn-out. Horses can also show symptoms without getting exercised. | Horses usually show signs of unwillingness to perform after 5 - 10 min of exercise. |
Therapies | Details | |
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Diet modification | Switch to a low starch (less than 10%), high fat (13%) diet feed or low calorie ration balancer and a low NSC (12% or less) hay | |
Exercise management | Turned out as much as possible, limiting time spent in stall, provide daily controlled exercise | |
Grazing muzzles | When horses are turned out on pastures with lish grass |