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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 371
 
Location: California | Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy. Anyone have experience with it? My vet says that many horses have it and their owners have no idea. The only way to tell is from a muscle tissue biopsy. Mine is getting one and I was wondering if anyone has a horse diagnosed with this and has experience with it. Thanks |
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 The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | There is a hair test that can be done for $45 (I think) that will test for one type of PSSM.
I have a mare that I believe has it, but I haven not gotten the test yet. I did change her feed to a low starch feed and have not had another issue. You have to keep them working and in shape. It isn't a death sentance. You just have to manage their feed intake accordingly.. Every horse is different. Mine can be turned out and not have an issue where others have to be dry lotted and their feed monitored.
There is a PSSM group on FB that has a LOT of good information.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/202978353056065/ |
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | I agree that many owners don't know about it. There are two types of PPSM - one can be determined by a very easy and cheap genetic test via a hair sample. PSSM 2 is through the biopsy.
There is a great FB page for PSSM with lots of good feeding suggestions, etc. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 371
Location: California | GoMistyGo - 2014-09-26 11:58 AM I agree that many owners don't know about it. There are two types of PPSM - one can be determined by a very easy and cheap genetic test via a hair sample. PSSM 2 is through the biopsy.
There is a great FB page for PSSM with lots of good feeding suggestions, etc.
Thanks! I asked to be invited into the group. Does anyone know how the vet knows if your horse has Type 1 or Type 2? |
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 Midget Lover
 
Location: Kentucky | What are symptoms of PSSM? |
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The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | batgirl1 - 2014-09-26 12:10 PM GoMistyGo - 2014-09-26 11:58 AM I agree that many owners don't know about it. There are two types of PPSM - one can be determined by a very easy and cheap genetic test via a hair sample. PSSM 2 is through the biopsy.
There is a great FB page for PSSM with lots of good feeding suggestions, etc. Thanks! I asked to be invited into the group. Does anyone know how the vet knows if your horse has Type 1 or Type 2?
They don't without the tests. They can only guess from a blood sample. |
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Member
Posts: 26
| Type 1 can be diagnosed by the genetic test from a hair sample. Type 2 is diagnosed by a muscle biopsy and more testing. As of right now there is not an easier way to diagnose type 2.
I have 1 positive and 2 I suspect to have PSSM in my herd. I'll do the testing on the two questionable horses this winter, right now they are on the diet and it has made a world of difference in their attitudes. The Facebook forum has a wealth of information and knowledgable people. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | My friends horse has PSSM. Most people don't know their horse has it. Her horse was very stiff, not wanting to move forward and grouchy. She had her on a special low starch diet and Bob from THE made a PSSM formula for her that worked amazing. The horse is winning in the show arena and going around like a normal horse. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 371
Location: California | My vet says this:
The only major difference at this point is if on the blood/hair test the horse is positive and the muscle biopsy is abnormal it is classified as Type 1. If only the muscle biopsy is abnormal and the blood/hair test is normal that is classified as type II. Basically, the blood/hair test is a genetic test that is looking for a particular gene that has been associated with the disease. We highly recommend the muscle biopsy if they are positive on the blood/hair test to confirm that they actually have the muscular changes and are not just a carrier of the disease. |
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 Scorpions R Us
Posts: 9586
Location: So. Cali. | I'm one of the ones who is pretty sure my mare has it, but couldnt bring myself to do a muscle biospy on her. I did the hair test and she was negative. Changed up her diet, made a big difference 
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Expert
Posts: 1695
Location: Willows, CA | We manage the diets for a lot of PSSM horses. Most of these horses can live a productive performance life, but they are not for everyone. While the diets for these horses can be pretty straight forward, the more complicated issue is that conditioning management requires that they get exercise every day. As in seven day a week. For some people, this is just not possible in their daily schedule. This conditioning schedule is as important as the diet. For the most acute cases, miss a day or two, and you will be at risk of a tie up episode. More horses suffer from this than you might imagine.
Edited by winwillows 2014-09-26 1:11 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 371
Location: California | Murphy - 2014-09-26 12:11 PM What are symptoms of PSSM?
Here are the symtoms according to the study from the University of Minnesota.Horses with both forms of PSSM have signs typically associated with tying-up. These signs are most commonly muscle stiffness, sweating, and reluctance to move. The signs are most often seen in horses when they are put into initial training or after a lay-up period when they receive little active turn-out. Episodes usually begin after very light exercise such as 10-20 minutes of walking and trotting. Horses with PSSM can exhibit symptoms without exercise.
During an episode, horses seem lazy, have a shifting lameness, tense up their abdomen, and develop tremors in their flank area. When horses stop moving they may stretch out as if to urinate. They are painful, stiff, sweat profusely, and have firm hard muscles, particularly over their hindquarters. Some horses will try pawing and rolling immediately after exercise. Most horses with PSSM have a history of numerous episodes of muscle stiffness at the commencement of training; however, mildly affected horses may have only one or two episodes/year.
Rarely, episodes of muscle pain and stiffness can be quite severe, resulting in a horse being unable to stand and being uncomfortable even when lying down. The urine in such horses is often coffee colored, due to muscle proteins being released into the bloodstream and passed into the urine. This is a serious situation, as it can damage the horse's kidneys if they become dehydrated.
Very young foals with PSSM occasionally show signs of severe muscle pain and weakness. This occurs more often if they have a concurrent infection such as pneumonia or diarrhea. Some weanlings and yearlings, particularly those with type 2 PSSM can develop muscle stiffness with daily activities and difficulty rising. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 371
Location: California | winwillows - 2014-09-26 1:10 PM We manage the diets for a lot of PSSM horses. Most of these horses can live a productive performance life, but they are not for everyone. While the diets for these horses can be pretty straight forward, the more complicated issue is that conditioning management requires that they get exercise every day. As in seven day a week. For some people, this is just not possible in their daily schedule. This conditioning schedule is as important as the diet. For the most acute cases, miss a day or two, and you will be at risk of a tie up episode. More horses suffer from this than you might imagine.
What I am confused by is that my horse has never had a tie up issue even in the least. The only thing I went to the vet for was because he has stopped turning his barrels. The vet watched him trot and palpated his back, neck, buitt etc and then told me that he thought he might have PSSM. I knew nothing about it and so he educated me and I have gone to the University of Minnesota website and looked at the study. My vet says that he has done biopsys on around 60 horses and all but 1 came up positive. Sounds like he knows what he sees but I am just confused about the fact that my horse doesn't seem to have the symptoms at all. |
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Expert
Posts: 1695
Location: Willows, CA | batgirl1 - 2014-09-26 1:37 PM
winwillows - 2014-09-26 1:10 PM We manage the diets for a lot of PSSM horses. Most of these horses can live a productive performance life, but they are not for everyone. While the diets for these horses can be pretty straight forward, the more complicated issue is that conditioning management requires that they get exercise every day. As in seven day a week. For some people, this is just not possible in their daily schedule. This conditioning schedule is as important as the diet. For the most acute cases, miss a day or two, and you will be at risk of a tie up episode. More horses suffer from this than you might imagine.
What I am confused by is that my horse has never had a tie up issue even in the least. The only thing I went to the vet for was because he has stopped turning his barrels. The vet watched him trot and palpated his back, neck, buitt etc and then told me that he thought he might have PSSM. I knew nothing about it and so he educated me and I have gone to the University of Minnesota website and looked at the study. My vet says that he has done biopsys on around 60 horses and all but 1 came up positive. Sounds like he knows what he sees but I am just confused about the fact that my horse doesn't seem to have the symptoms at all.
This still can be PSSM. Muscle tightening caused by this can effect a horse to a degree that it restricts flexibility with the result being what you are experiencing in your horses inability to turn properly. Damage that results from mild episodes can cause later episodes to be more acute. I have seen a wide range of reactions from what you describe to absolute tie ups that freeze a horse in place or even cause it to go down. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 371
Location: California | Thank you very much...great info.  |
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Expert
Posts: 1695
Location: Willows, CA | batgirl1 - 2014-09-26 4:37 PM
Thank you very much...great info.
Your horse, if it tests positive, should be fairly straight forward to manage since the symptoms seem to be fairly mild compared to what this condition can be. Do a search for Stephanie Valbergs work on PSSM. We provided nutritional information and helped with the diets for her clinical work years ago. Her outline for both diet and conditioning are very effective in getting the most out of a PSSM or ERM horse. |
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Common Sense and then some
Location: So. California | There was another thread on PSSM awhile back that contains some great information.
http://forums.barrelhorseworld.com/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=433695&posts=272&highlight=pssm&highlightmode=1#M7037678
By the way, there are no "carriers" with PSSM1. PSSM1 is an autosomal dominant disorder, requiring only one copy of the PSSM1 gene to express/be affected by the disorder. A horse is either positive or negative.
Edited by Anniemae 2014-09-27 1:47 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 585
Location: Texas | Google Dr Beth Valentine. She has acceptable diets. Lots of good info. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 371
Location: California | workerbee - 2014-09-27 3:35 PM Google Dr Beth Valentine. She has acceptable diets. Lots of good info.
Thank you for that. I am confused because my vet told me to take him off the alfalfa completely and feed grass hay. I have researched for 2 days and am finding that many can't eat grass at all and alfalfa is recommended.  |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 371
Location: California | Winwillows, I pm'd you. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| batgirl1 - 2014-09-27 4:14 PM
workerbee - 2014-09-27 3:35 PM Google Dr Beth Valentine. She has acceptable diets. Lots of good info.
Thank you for that. I am confused because my vet told me to take him off the alfalfa completely and feed grass hay. I have researched for 2 days and am finding that many can't eat grass at all and alfalfa is recommended.
From what my vet says it has to do with the fermentable sugars in the food.
Grass and grass hay have different sugars, I wouldn't have these two in the same category, certain PSSM horses can eat grass but have to be at certain parts of the day when grass has the least amount of sugar.
For hay you can always have it tested for NSC so you know what you are feeding.
My aunt has 3 horses all elderly that have confirmed PSSM, all three are on pergolide, depending on the season and their cortisol levels, she either increases or decreases it, all three are on free choice grass, and get alfalfa twice a day without any complications.
If your horse is PSSM positive, you could discuss with your vet to see if your horse would be a candidate for pergolide. |
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PSSM