atypical myopathy/azoutoria = death of beloved 4 year old

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cowgal Nik

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I had the pleasure of owning a vanner type 4 year old - he was in light work and looked in perfect health.
I have owned horses for 20 years and never experienced any thing so so traumatic ...
Facts - 1) 4 year old. 2) Lived out (was to be stabled at night when weather got worse) 3) on clean grazing, but used over long period of time 4 ) Was fed hay/ eQUIVITE SUPPLEMENT AND dENGI/ . 5) Trees (non poisonous surrounding paddock .. never the less fenced off so horse could not touch them) 6) 2 other horses in paddock next to it 21 year old and 13 year old.

What happened. :- Rode Maccie in light schooling day b4. No excessive exercise checked him 7pm - perfect. Next morning lying i filed - unable to get up - immediately call vet. Wait 1 hr - vet comes and injects painkillers and takes samples - notes redness in urine - Raining now heavily and we put more rugs on him to keep Mac warm - vet wonders if acorns - no way as none - he goes to take tests.
3.5 hrs later (many calls later ... vetinary nurse says azoutoria - vet on way - he arrives - and advises me of kidney damage - he has fluid with him but needs to get horse up - with help they try - Mac too ill - he goes to car to get drug and our beautiful boy died in front of us. Devasated and confused and frustrated to what happend??
I know there have been similar cases and this is very rare - please can any one shed some light as I am so upset and so worried for my other horses (decided to get them blood tested on Monday) have been searching for answers and really worried as atypical myopathy seems to be screaming at me ,
 
I am so sorry to learn of this tragedy. I am not sure where you are based but Cornwall has had around 20 deaths of which 8 in the last week and all are pointing towards atypical myopathy. Reserach is being carried out to try and pinpoint the climatic/environmental conditions of each case but as yet nothing definite other than, as you say, living out, heavy rain, possibly followed by frost, affecting youngsters on poor pasture....I am very worried too. Please pm me if you would like to get in touch with the person doing the research.
 
cowgal Nik said:
I had the pleasure of owning a vanner type 4 year old - he was in light work and looked in perfect health.
I have owned horses for 20 years and never experienced any thing so so traumatic ...
Facts - 1) 4 year old. 2) Lived out (was to be stabled at night when weather got worse) 3) on clean grazing, but used over long period of time 4 ) Was fed hay/ eQUIVITE SUPPLEMENT AND dENGI/ . 5) Trees (non poisonous surrounding paddock .. never the less fenced off so horse could not touch them) 6) 2 other horses in paddock next to it 21 year old and 13 year old.

What happened. :- Rode Maccie in light schooling day b4. No excessive exercise checked him 7pm - perfect. Next morning lying i filed - unable to get up - immediately call vet. Wait 1 hr - vet comes and injects painkillers and takes samples - notes redness in urine - Raining now heavily and we put more rugs on him to keep Mac warm - vet wonders if acorns - no way as none - he goes to take tests.
3.5 hrs later (many calls later ... vetinary nurse says azoutoria - vet on way - he arrives - and advises me of kidney damage - he has fluid with him but needs to get horse up - with help they try - Mac too ill - he goes to car to get drug and our beautiful boy died in front of us. Devasated and confused and frustrated to what happend??
I know there have been similar cases and this is very rare - please can any one shed some light as I am so upset and so worried for my other horses (decided to get them blood tested on Monday) have been searching for answers and really worried as atypical myopathy seems to be screaming at me ,
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I am so sorry to hear of your horses sad death and just wanted to let you know I am thinking of you.

Here are some links to previous posts about atypical myopathy if you haven't already read them xx http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/search.php?searchid=1324372

Again what is very interesting and possibly fundamentally important and was raised in the vet factsheet link by the previous poster was the statement that poo picking fields by mechanical brush sweeping means should be avoided. This is one of the recommendations of the grass sickness organisation also.
 
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Hi everyone,

I too have lost my youngster due to Atypical myopathy last week. I have a BSc in Equine Science and am using it to help collect research and have the help and backing of many veterinary surgeons also.

You can help as i am collecting information on all horses that have suffered from this tragic condition in order to correlate as much information so that we can develop a better understanding of the situation and try to begin to understand/find out what is causing it.

Could anyone with information please email me ruth.cassettari@virgin.net if you are happy to forward information it will be put to good use, blood test results would also be fantastic to get the best insight possible. Horse and hound are running an article on this condition this week. Keep smiling people - I know how devastating it is :)
 
So sorry for your tragic loss.

there does indeed seem to be a sudden increase the number of cases of atypical myoglobinuria being seen in the UK at present...vets I've spoken to don't have any ideas why yet. It is both frustrating and worrying.

My best wishes to anyone who's lost a horse to this condition.

Imogen:(
 
Is this the same thing that happened to Kokopeli? (her spotty horse Koko??). So sorry for your loss, a truely devistating thing to happen.
Hope the vets / scientists can find some sort of solution soon.
 
This is what happened to my boy
I heard its more common in younger horses and has something to do with the paddock so if you have other horses on that paddock get them off it ASAP!

I'm very sorry to hear about your loss if you want someone to talk to feel free to PM me as its such a nasty disease for them to go through

Big hugs xx
 
I cannot begin to explain how sorry I am for your loss.I lost my wonderhorse Lancelot suddenly and without any answer.There is so much that we do not understand about horses. Grass sickness, colic, laminitis, azoturia,atrial fibrilation ,etc,etc.The lack of funding and research . May I suggest a small token of your remembrance of your horse might be supporting research.
 
Thank you so much every one for your kind words and support.

I believe H&H are running an article on this horrific disease this week.

Huge hug to all those who have been affected by this disease xxx
 
My colt survived and I do feel so so thankful for what ever reason meant he was to stay and fight

I had the other two horses tested who are in the same field
Both had high counts but nothing threatening
One is his mum and the other a vetern welsh

My mare is still on the same paddock with no problems
The colt and his welsh companion are in another field but have only just moved although we restricted grazing on the original paddock and he was mainly in stable yard whilst in recovery

We were diagnosed Easter Monday when he collapsed and he has just had his final blood test giving him the all clear
 
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