Keeping him warm - Muscle Myopathy

[Hormonal Filly]

Even though my geldings test results for PSSM 1, PSSM 2 and all variants came back negative his muscle enzymes have been so raised the vet diagnosed him with a unknown muscle myopathy. We could do a biopsy but it will be so invasive, to find out the same thing.

Anyway.. I really struggle to keep him warm but don't want to over rug. Last night we had some rain but it was 13 degrees so not really cold. I put a 80g turnout (no neck) with a no fill lightweight on top (no neck) and this morning he was stood in the corner of his field, head down. Clearly looked upset. Between his bum cheeks was cold, his body was cold even under the rugs and his armpit and ears were 'just' warm.. his neck hairs were slightly lifted.

Do temperature guns work on horses?

It seems silly putting a medium weight on a unclipped native when it isn't even below 10 degrees yet! Usually hes clipped in a heavy weight but its a bit to early for that. Hes on restricted grazing as hes over weight.

 

[Roxylola]

If hes cold hes cold, I'd rug him. Also, if hes huddled up somewhere feeling miserable because hes cold, he wont be moving about and will get stiffer and colder.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

If hes cold hes cold, I'd rug him.

He was in a 80g turnout with another turnout on top, so 2 rugs on. Just feel mad putting anything heavier on him when its still 13 degrees at night here.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I think this has to be a case of 'listen to the horse'. He isn't a 'normal' horse, he is vulnerable, so has to be treated as such.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I think this has to be a case of 'listen to the horse'. He isn't a 'normal' horse, he is vulnerable, so has to be treated as such.

Maybe I'm being to hard. I'll try a 200g turnout and see how he is tomorrow. Liveries keep telling me, 'oh mines naked still why does yours have 2 rugs on'. Its hard to get a good middle, I don't want to make him hot but hate seeing him cold!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I'll try a 200g turnout and see how he is tomorrow. Liveries keep telling me, 'oh mines naked still why does yours have 2 rugs on'. They just don't understand.. poor chap. Its hard to get a good middle, I don't want to make him hot but hate seeing him cold!

It has nothing to do with the liveries. This is between you and your horse. My horses are out unclipped and naked and will be for all except the very worst winter weather - and we are on top of the Pennines - but that isn't relevant to your horse.

 

[Roxylola]

He was in a 80g turnout with another turnout on top, so 2 rugs on. Just feel mad putting anything heavier on him when its still 13 degrees at night here.

I appreciate you're rugging already but hes telling you very clearly hes cold regardless of the temperature

 

[Dexter]

I've just seen your post on the PSSM group I think. I'd double or triple the rugs and go from there.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Thanks all, much appreciated. Will triple layer tonight and see how we go. Its very difficult to manage

 

[PapaverFollis]

Some of the rugging weights on the PSSM Facebook group will make you feel better. Stuff the other liveries. I've discovered that "feels like" 10 degrees in summer is different to "feels like" 10 degrees in autumn according to The Beast. 100g with added rainsheet last night... going to be the 200g tonight as it's going to 4 degrees. Normally she'd probably be OK in the 100g at 4 degrees but the change in temperature messes with her so going for the 200g. And she only needs light rugging compared to many of these horses!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would be wary of layering unless the top rug is bigger than the under rug, in case the layers become restrictive. I would just go for a heavier weight rug tbh.

 

[Dexter]

I would be wary of layering unless the top rug is bigger than the under rug, in case the layers become restrictive. I would just go for a heavier weight rug tbh.

Its impossible with PSSM. My big cob needs up to 800gms in winter and rugs dont come heavier than 400gms

 

[NinjaPony]

Ignore everyone else and rug for what your horse is telling you he needs. I don’t have a PSSM horse but one of mine has chronic lung disease and so I always keep him at a comfortable temperature and don’t allow him to get wet. I’ll be using my 150g rug overnight the next couple of days as it’s going down to 6 degrees or so and his field is exposed. I’d put him in a medium weight and see how he goes.

 

[tristar]

it might be warmish when the liveries are there but in autumn its humid, damp, and are they are not there at 4 am, temps dip in the night, i go by how i feel as well, if its chilly on my arms, i double think and check for warmth

 

[Tiddlypom]

The Rambo varilayer turnouts are ideal for PSSM horses. They also do varilayer liners and stable rugs.




PSSM horses must be kept warm. Listen to your horse, not to any interfering busybodies.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Its impossible with PSSM. My big cob needs up to 800gms in winter and rugs dont come heavier than 400gms

OP was talking about using a 80gm rug!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

OP your horse might feel better with a neck on. My Draft horse was fine in a light rug so long as it had a neck, she hated to have her neck wet, even though she had a decent mane - it made her really miserable.

 

[meleeka]

A friends oldie is already in a 200g with neck! He usually ends up with a 400g so it doesn’t really increase as much as the temperature drops.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Its impossible with PSSM. My big cob needs up to 800gms in winter and rugs dont come heavier than 400gms

HW rug with a HW liner - sorted .

 

[Dexter]

HW rug with a HW liner - sorted .

Thats what I do, but someone commented about not layering rugs. I tend to layer lighter rugs anyway as I find it keeps them warmer. I've never had an issue in 2 winters now.

 

[paddy555]

forget the outside temp, temperature gauges, other people, it's too early and anything else. They need a lot of warmth.
Mine was in a 250 rug last night. In Devon so still warm, others were unrugged. As soon as the temp. drops at all he will go into a 450g varilayer wug probably next week. Luckily he can manage with just that weight.

We had rain last night, just a little. Rain and PSSM type horses don't go together. Don't let them get wet. Always use an exercise sheet. If it is wet get a waterproof one, when it gets cold get a thicker one.

This is coming up to danger time for PSSM horses. There will be posts from owners of undiagnosed horses wondering why their horses are starting to have problems, posts from PSSM people wondering why their horses are getting stiff.

Next week is October. October is danger month in the UK. If the temp. drops this week end more rugs will quickly be needed.

 

[SEL]

Boiled my PSSM mare last night - muscles felt lovely this morning, but over did it a little at 15 degrees and 150g rug. But we had heavy rain and that's a real trigger for her.

Found her 250g lovely warm rug for tonight when its expected to drop down to around 10 ish with rain.

Looking like 5 degrees overnight towards the end of the week so she'll either be layered or her warmer rugs will come out depending on rain and how quickly the temperature drops. She's not clipped btw and carries plenty of her own insulation.

When I first had her I thought a fat, unclipped part bred draft could easily winter out. We were already going down the ulcer route and I couldn't understand why she was stiff, grumpy and foul tempered - and she wasn't even losing weight. Her whole personality changed for the better when she was rugged poor thing.

 

[PapaverFollis]

I think it might the temperature change that is a big issue rather than just out and out temperature too. 4 degrees here tonight but Beast should be fine in her 200g because the day time temperature was around 10 degrees and at the hottest last week it was around 18 degrees. No wind or rain so I may even have a hot horse in the morning.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

He was warm 'enough' in a medium weight this morning with a no fill lightweight on top. I'd expect him to be warmer in all honesty.. but he was so much happier in himself and grazing.

I think it might the temperature change that is a big issue rather than just out and out temperature too.

The change definitely effects him more!

 

[ihatework]

Random question but why do you put a no fill on top? Surely all you do is add weight to the thicker under rug and compress the insulation?

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Random question but why do you put a no fill on top? Surely all you do is add weight to the thicker under rug and compress the insulation?

Unfortunately he is a rug wrecker.. just from fighting with his friends. The medium weight has a couple of holes and one slice in the outer, we had some light rain forecasted so didn't want the rain to go through so put a light weight on top but didn't think of it compressing the insulation.

Have just ordered a new rug, all of mine are second hand but gone for a pricey new one with a decent denier.. hope its worth it!

 

[PapaverFollis]

I have a cheap no fill that goes over Beast's rugs for a similar reason. MrT has bitten her couple of times and put some rips in the rugs. The no fill is very very lightweight and I bought a size up and so it doesn't compress the rug underneath at all.