Atypical Myopathy - a warning

charlie76

charlie76

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We have lost 2 ponies from this is the past 24 hrs and another is at the vets looking very unwell.
The vets have said there is a massive influx of it in the area and to keep any horses in 24/7 that graze low lying grass with trees as this seems to be a common factor.
Our ponies showed no signs, it came on in minutes, starting with mild colic like symptoms and within 15 mins they were unable to breath or move due to the muscles stopping working.
We managed to catch 4 others in time (we hope) by spotting bright red membranes in teh eyes and purple/grey lips and gums.
We quickly got them on fluids and this seemed to get them through.
Please be on the lookout, its terrible.
 
How terrible for you to encounter such sudden tragedies! Can you spare the time to let us know where you are and how 'low lying' the land is?
 
Berkshire, its not that low TBH, it gets a bit wet in the rain but not out of the ordinary but we were surrounded by trees.
 
What part of the country are you located?

Best wishes for a swift recovery for your unwell horses and sympathy for the sudden loss of the 2 who have already passed away.
 
So sorry to hear this, you must be beside yourself..I lost one to an unexplained colic that wasn't quite colic last year..this seems to have too many similarities and he was only 7 and had never had the vet for anything illness wise..I lost another 3yr old filly to grass sickness which was equally as awful to deal with,both the fields were surrounded by trees too tho in different counties as I moved away from the suspected grass sickness prone area.

Best wishes for the health & recovery & my deepest sympathies for your very sad losses...and thank you for bringing this to our attention..I hope everything works out a little kinder for you xx
 
A dear friend of mine has just lost her Arab youngster to this horrible illness, she found him dead in the field one morning, it was a terrible shock.
 
Whereabouts in Berkshire are you Charlie76? PM me if you'd prefer, I'm in Berkshire too.

I'm so sorry to hear about your horses, and I hope the others recover quickly.
 
I am so sorry to hear this, it must have been such an awful shock for you for it to happen so quickly. Did your vet give any reasons why it seems to be happening much more this year than previous years. I read somewhere that a heavy frost reduces the risk, do you know if this is true
 
Mother lost a yearling filly last week, probably accounts for the myserious death of several others over the years too. Seems to be youngsters who are most susecptible. She's in South Hampshire.
 
So very sorry.
On Saturday I was speaking to a hunt kennelsman who had to collect 2 horses with this. He had never even heard of it before, and suddenly there were 2. Seems the cases are rising. Sadly most people 'think' it is colic and by the time they realise it isn't, then it is too late.
The field where my horses are, who live out, has trees all alongside one edge of it, so if that is a possible link, then I don't know what to do. Surely lots of fields have trees surrounding??

Really hope the other horses OP pull through. Big hugs.
 
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