Be Aware! Equine Atypical Myopathy (EAM)

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Scranny_Ann

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FYI email received today by our local Veterinary Group. Please pass on info to all horsey people you know.



Equine Atypical Myopathy (EAM)

· Disease affecting grazing horses at pasture, which affects the horse’s muscles causing them to break down

· Exact cause unproven as yet, suggestions include Clostridial (bacterial) toxin in the ground, or mycotoxins found on fallen leaves, which are then ingested

· Similar to equine dysautonomia (grass sickness) but affects muscles rather than digestive system

· Associated with wet, windy weather as found in Autumn hence prevalence of the disease at this time

· Outbreaks are generally preceded by a change in weather, such as a frost or heavy rain

· Affects individuals or groups of horses at pasture but is NOT CONTAGIOUS

· Affects mainly young horses in ANY PHYSICAL condition that are AT PASTURE, usually POOR GRAZING and receiving no supplementary feed

· 89% of affected animals will die or require euthanasia

CLINCAL SIGNS

· Sudden onset muscle weakness/stiffness in horse at pasture, unrelated to exercise

· Signs can be variable, ranging from dullness and inappetance , to collapse

· Signs can be confused with colic in recumbent horses, especially as the bladder tends to be very full due to an inability to urinate

· Myoglobinuria which is the production of very dark urine

DIAGNOSIS

· BLOOD TEST-detect levels of the muscle enzymes AST, CK, LDH

TREATMENT

· 89% of horses will die or require euthanasia so intensive treatment should be initiated asap

· Intravenous fluid therapy to support kidney function, anti-inflammatories and nursing

PREVENTION

· Provide adequate grazing with supplementary feed if required

· Rake up all the leaves on the pasture, or if this is not possible move to clean pasture or stable

· Feed Selenevite E (Equine Products) supplement through the autumn/winter period

· If any of the clinical signs are noted call a vet straight away-the earlier intensive treatment is initiated, the greater the chance of survival

· If an animal has been positively diagnosed then other animals on the same pasture should be moved into stables or another paddock, and should be blood sampled
 
Scranny_Ann said:
FYI email received today by our local Veterinary Group. Please pass on info to all horsey people you know.



Equine Atypical Myopathy (EAM)


PREVENTION

· Provide adequate grazing with supplementary feed if required

· Rake up all the leaves on the pasture, or if this is not possible move to clean pasture or stable

· Feed Selenevite E (Equine Products) supplement through the autumn/winter period

· If any of the clinical signs are noted call a vet straight away-the earlier intensive treatment is initiated, the greater the chance of survival

· If an animal has been positively diagnosed then other animals on the same pasture should be moved into stables or another paddock, and should be blood sampled
Click to expand...

Please can I add to the above list under 'prevention' - possible link to mechanical removal of poo from paddocks using brush sweeping action. Please do not use this if you can possibly avoid it.
 
Scranny_Ann said:
· Associated with wet, windy weather as found in Autumn hence prevalence of the disease at this time

· Outbreaks are generally preceded by a change in weather, such as a frost or heavy rain

· Affects individuals or groups of horses at pasture but is NOT CONTAGIOUS

· Affects mainly young horses in ANY PHYSICAL condition that are AT PASTURE, usually POOR GRAZING and receiving no supplementary feed

· Sudden onset muscle weakness/stiffness in horse at pasture, unrelated to exercise

· Signs can be variable, ranging from dullness and inappetance , to collapse
Click to expand...

Could just be over reacting but after reading this I am very concerned about my mare, shes 5 yrs old and out for about 12 hours a day; shes normally bouncing off the walls & veyr exciteable however today her and another pony at the yard came in not themselves at all both very 'dosy' & uninterested, both ponies are lame but were thought to have tweeked a muscle in the shoulder/back as not heat/swelling. Just reading about the weather etc made me panic a little, please tell me i'm just an over protective mummy ?
 
Solopony said:
Could just be over reacting but after reading this I am very concerned about my mare, shes 5 yrs old and out for about 12 hours a day; shes normally bouncing off the walls & veyr exciteable however today her and another pony at the yard came in not themselves at all both very 'dosy' & uninterested, both ponies are lame but were thought to have tweeked a muscle in the shoulder/back as not heat/swelling. Just reading about the weather etc made me panic a little, please tell me i'm just an over protective mummy ?
Click to expand...

Probably, but if you're worried get your vet to run bloods. You'll probably see deterioration quickly in them to be honest.

I'm sure they'll be fine.
 
Solopony said:
Could just be over reacting but after reading this I am very concerned about my mare, shes 5 yrs old and out for about 12 hours a day; shes normally bouncing off the walls & veyr exciteable however today her and another pony at the yard came in not themselves at all both very 'dosy' & uninterested, both ponies are lame but were thought to have tweeked a muscle in the shoulder/back as not heat/swelling. Just reading about the weather etc made me panic a little, please tell me i'm just an over protective mummy ?
Click to expand...

Generally the reaction is a lot worse than this people have turned horses out at night and in the morning they are very seriously ill. Keep an eye on yours but doubt this is the cause.
 
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