Any other EPSM'ers out there?

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dilbert

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My vet thinks Frank has EPSM, he shows most of the symptoms but I've decided not to have the muscle biopsy at the mo.

(I'd originally thought it was IR but blood tests said no.)

I've been advised to give him a month off ridden work as he has lost all of his topline and I've started him on oil, he was already on a low starch/sugar diet. I'm unsure whether Alcar would be a better option to oil though?

Can anyone offer any words of wisdom?

I'm finding it all a bit complicated and stressful tbh.
I've contacted Beth Valentine and I'm a member of the EPSM yahoo group.

Cheers :)
 
I share an ardennes, and me and his owner are also trying him on an EPSM diet at the mo. He has had low carb and sugar diet for months now, but we have just started to try the large quantities of oil as well as he is really lacking muscle at the moment. We've not had an official diagnoses, but as the diet does no harm in non-EPSM horses we guess it's worth a shot.

He's not been in ridden work for the best part of a month, as saddle no longer fits due to lost muscle behind withers, (saddler coming next week thank goodness) but we have been doing lots of in hand over poles and long reining but it's made no difference so far, so hoping the oil will help with building some muscle!

I guess its a case of lots of videos and pics, persevere for a few months and look for any improvements, and if not, we're back to square one!

Good luck!
 
My last horse who i had 8 years had EPSM I did have the biopsy done at the time it was not really heard of very much

The top line will take a while, I would feed Baileys outshine,, while expensive it it the only thing that got my lads back on even when he was on 500ml oil a day he still needed it for a few months.

I found walking hacks were better than time off for mine

This is a fab site

http://www.ruralheritage.com/vet_clinic/index.htm#epsm
 
My older horse was diagnosed with EPSM in 2005, after a muscle biopsy. There wasn't much information available on the condition then. I didn't have any problem with muscle loss, other than the damage in the muscles affected by the attacks of the disease, as my horse is an extremely well built Irish Draught cross and a fat pig! Therefore decided not to follow the high oil diet, as she didn't need the extra calories!!

Anyway, I was advised to give her as much gentle exercise as possible, including riding every day and ensuring she got at least 8 hours turnout a day, if you're at livery you may need an understanding yard owner......... You build muscles by using them, so it's work, coupled with correct feeding, that will lead to muscle development, feeding on its own just provides calories. However, with an EPSM horse, it's important to keep the work level appropriate to what the horse can manage, so lots of walking to start with and then gradually build it up.

I used to do affiliated eventing/show jumping with my horse, but had to retire her from this as she couldn't cope with the work, but have managed to find her a lovely loan home, but it was made absolutely clear that she had special management needs (and was written into contract!). Seems to have worked, as she has been free of clinical attacks for over 6 years, and does lots of hacking, schooling and even hunting in the winter, and looks really happy and healthy. So, it is possible to manage this condition, and enable your horse to have a useful and productive life.

Good luck!
 
My boy had the muscle biopsy 2 years ago, as we suspected EPSM...first result came back inconclusive but a second opinion, and a different stain, performed by Richard Percy, showed not EPSM, but he did have Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyolysis.

I've had to give him prolonged time off as he had such extensive muscle damage from it prior to diagnosis, but when he's healthy, regular work is best for him....days off can be quite damaging.
 
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