Idiopathic Muscle Myopathy any experiences to share?

[DMancini]

Hi

Anybody out there had a similar diagnosis? experiences?

Horse is 16.3 7 year old gelding ISHxHolstein

My horse has just been diagnosed with this following various tests and a muscle biopsy. Previous history.... horse has tied up twice in last six months one was following hunting and the next was after a jumping session and possible a third time following a short hack hind leg wouldn't stop twitching for ages, since then vets have done lots of tests he's not showing any signs of lameness, bloods and muscle biopsy as all his symptoms were suggesting ESPM. Only concern vet had was in the displacement tests he didn't move his legs back to their original position (something I'm told all horses do) she said not to worry could just be because he is quite laid back.

Vet has now suggested trial of high fat diet as suggested for horses that tie up, currently on small haynet of haylage and alfa -a, and in 4 weeks at least 20 minutes exercise every day and see how he goes....I am pleased its not ESPM, but feeling frustrated we cant find out exactly whats wrong.....
he has changed so much and gone from a happy chap to a fed up horse that is reluctant to move about (he is out 24/7 currently) and just does't seem comfortable he always rests a back leg and shuffles his weight when he is standing still, and at times stands like he has laminitis, he hasn't lost any weight though. vet assures me he's not in pain. He was doing so well jumping 1.10 with ease! and a promising carer out eventing. at the moment vets cant say if he will ever be more than a hack so I'm feeling very disappointed

apologies long post but any experiences good or bad would be welcomed!

 

[paddy555]

I can relate to most of that. Experience at the moment is "pending". We are walking 1.5 hours 7 days a week. We have a few short trots on the level. However in the field we have a much more enthusiastic horse who went from moping around and doing very little to cantering up the hill, bucking, head snaking everywhere and finally fooling around, standing on his hind legs and play fighting his friend.

I decided to restrict any faster work until he was happy mucking around in the field which he is now so that is my next step.
We didn't do a biopsy for epsm as having done lots of research I wasn't sure how accurate the results would be.

I got there by large doses of vit E, the most important factor of all, a slight oil diet only in copra, alfalfa nuts and linseed.No oil as such. Always, always an exercise sheet or rug. I never let him get cold. And work in hand from 10 mins a day to a good hours walking in hand. I walked in hand for an hour for about 2 months. He is exercised 7 days a week. If the weather was just too bad to ride I would walk if necessary. Also grass restriction but he is a barefoot horse on a track so that would have happened anyway.

My biggest discovery was this
http://www.cvm.umn.edu/umec/lab/vitE/home.html

also the PSSM notes on that site.

Also the PSSM facebook group who I nicked lots of ideas from. I decided it didn't matter if it was EPSM or not, if I treated him as an EPSM horse it would do no harm and it did a lot of good.

I didn't blood test for vit e levels as unfortunately I had already given it in case he was EPSM and was getting amazing results and I didn't know how accurate the test was but if I was in that position again I may consider it. My vet didn't suggest a vit 3 test although I think vet's in general practice may have limited knowledge about EPSM type problems so I did a lot of research on my own.
If I can be of any help please pm me.

 

[DMancini]

thanks for your reply, that's made me feel better its just been quite depressing watching him just standing about and not being able to do anything with him, I have ordered him Vit E supplement so fingers crossed I will get results as you have mentioned.

Like you i have done lots research and hopefully, like you treating, him like EPSM will have a positive effect.
...you both must be super fit

 

[BBP]

I share some of your frustration. Mine was diagnosed with PSSM in February this year. DNA test shows he is negative for type 1 and I haven't biopsied for type 2 as the treatment options were the same. He has never tied up that I know of, but a lot of things about him don't scream pssm. He always moves easily, never stiff or sorry, doesnt have the laid back temperament typical of pssm horses (the opposite!). But he is wildly erratic in his behaviour and I'm at a loss as to how to help him. I'm reluctant to try high fat as he is fat already and I'm concerned about the possibility of insulin resistance. And yet nothing else I've tried has worked. I started him on alcar and he was brilliant for bang on 10 weeks then went mad, I still haven't sorted it. He does about an hours work a day (in two lots of I have to), walk trot and canter 7 days a week for the last 5 months, I'd increase and hack further if I could but he's not reliable enough, he thinks the whole world is out to kill him. I'm pulling my hair out as to what to change as keeping things as they are isn't working.

I blood tested for vit e and he was deficient (at this point he was behaving well on alcar, calm and happy), so added vit e, magnesium oxide (as forage testing showed ratio of mg to ca was way out of whack). He also gets some linseed, an amino acid calmer and spillers balancer plus his alcar but no amazing improvements in him.