The Horse:Your Guide To Equine Health Care provides monthly equine health care information to horse owners, breeders, veterinarians, barn/farm managers, trainer/riding instructors, and others involved in the hands-on care of the horse.
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24 TheHorse.com THE HORSE March 2018 Sports Medicine at Michigan State University, in East Lansing, has dedicated her career to studying equine neuromus- cular diseases. Thanks to these efforts and those of other experts worldwide, veterinarians can more rapidly identify specific forms of tying-up, such as PSSM. They can now even differentiate between forms of PSSM—an important distinc- tion when you're considering treatment. Perhaps most importantly, research in this field has generated proven exercise- and nutrition-based management strate- gies for horses affected by the disease. In this article we'll summarize the steps needed to identify PSSM, distinguish between the types, and offer recommen- dations for managing affected horses. Understanding "Tying-Up" You might have heard an owner say, "Oh, my horse tied up this week- end." But what exactly does that mean, other than an unexpected visit from the veterinarian? And should that owner expect to see more episodes? "Some horses tie up only sporadically, likely due to factors in the environment," Valberg says. "For example, horses can tie up when their level of exercise exceeds their training or lack thereof, if they have been overeating, or have a dietary imbal- ance, such as excesses or deficiencies of certain vitamins or minerals." Alternatively, some horses suffer repeated, or chronic, bouts of tying-up. Classic examples, as highlighted in the table on page 28, include malignant TYING-UP: Where Do We Stand? PAULA DA SILVA Veterinarians can take muscle biopsies to examine glycogen in the muscle cells of a horse that's been worked up for tying-up. Abnormal-looking glycogen means the horse has PSSM. Ask your vet about WeightGainWise TM Got a horse that needs weight? Looking for more energy without excitability? Struggling with a hard keeper? Available only through your veterinarian. Developed by: KPPvet.com, 859-873-2974 A high-fat, low-starch supplement. WeightGainWise A high-fat, low-starch supplement. TH 2018-03