EAM Survivor Back Home :) Also in Veterinary

[HollyB66]

Our yard has recently lost a young pony to Equine Atypical Myopathy

The 2nd case was a 14 year old mare and she has pulled through and is back home tonight safe and sound It's been a long stressful week for all of us, she is a much loved mare.

She was caught VERY early and she was at the vets probably within an hour and a half of the first visible symptom.

One of my friends has recently set up an EAM Awareness Facebook Group.
(Our little survivor is the one in the profile photo of the FB Group Page).

https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnm...2319723868273/

Please feel free to join and share your knowledge and experiences.

 

[MrsMozart]

Very good news that she's back. Sorry to hear of all the pain and heartache.

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

How awful, so sorry to hear that. Glad to hear that the 14yr old mare is back home and doing ok. Its a truly awful thing EAM, I do not have experience of it, but am aware of what it is

 

[HollyB66]

Thanks, it is awareness that we want to spread.

If we hadn't lost the first little one, the 2nd wouldn't have been spotted so soon and she probably wouldn't have survived. It seems that timeliness is the key ... if that makes sense ...

 

[Holly Hocks]

What are the symptoms of it?

 

[HollyB66]

What are the symptoms of it?

I've copied this directly off the Facebook page:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMnuhO5gPaI

^^ A video of the myopathy muscle tremors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaP8zt2g6Nk&feature=related

^^ Colic like symptoms

**

The clinical signs of atypical myopathy appear peracute. The rare premonitory signs described by owners consist of lethargy, decrease of appetite, signs of colic, stiffness or lameness.

All horses presenting atypical myopathy suffer from severe, generalised weakness and are frequently found in lateral recumbency. Sometimes, they are found dead on pasture without showing any premonitory signs. Signs of colic can be present, most probably due to the difficulty to urinate. The distension of the bladder could indeed explain the signs of colic that usually disappear once the veterinarian empties the bladder. However, colic sign unresponsive to bladder emptying may indicate coexistence of abdominal colic and atypical myopathy.

**

Horses still able to walk present with stiffness, particularly visible at the hindquarter. It is important also to check other horses present on the same pasture for stiffness, because it can be an announcing sign of atypical myopathy.

In general, horses suffering from atypical myopathy are depressed. Often, they show difficulty or even inability to get on their feet and/or to stay standing. Muscular tremor and localized or generalized sudation can be observed. In spite of the severity of the clinical signs, often affected horses still want to eat (try to grasp any hay or grass that is near their mouth). No clinical signs have been reported related to troubles of the central nervous system (the horse doesn’t seem to be disconnected from his environment), only occasionally some paddling has been observed. This might be interpreted as a sign of suffering or/and anxiousness and/or desire to get up. It is important to mention that compared to the intense suffering of exertional myopathy, atypical myopathy seems less painful.



**

The emission of dark coloured urine is probably the most specific clinical sign of atypical myopathy. If possible, collect a urine sample to show your vet to help him make a correct diagnosis.

The mucosae are congested (abnormally red) or less often, cyanotic (purple). Taking the rectal temperature reveals generally an important hypothermia (less than 36°C, whereas it is between 37 and 38°C in a healthy horse). This hypothermia is probably a consequence of the fact that the horse is laying on the pasture, not able to move or get up, often in the cold (most of the cases arrive in autumn or spring, during cold nights).

The horses often show difficulties to breath progressing over time. Their heart rate is often increased (> 60 beats/min compared to 40 beats/min for a normal resting horse), and their respiratory rate sometimes also. Most of the time, the gut sounds are normal.

 

[HollyB66]

What are the symptoms of it?

The 2nd mare that is now back at our yard having fought this off only showed muscle tremors and sweating before the vet was called.

The blood test came up positive within the hour.