Possibly PSSM?

Suzie94

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Hi everyone! So long story short, I’ve been struggling with my 6 year old hackney mare for a couple months now.
I got her in September last year and she was great. When I tried her she was good and I saw no red flags.
When I got her home she was a little tucked up for a couple days and I put this down to stress. However she was settling well and was good to tack up, mount and ride. Then things started to go downhill. She started being reactive to being tacked up, rugged and when I’d try to mount. Biting kicking, getting extremely tight and tucked up and spinning (genuinely being stressed).
This has got increasingly worse and Some days I’ve just been unsuccessful as it gets dangerous. The farrier also commented on how tight her hamstrings were and had been struggling with her a lot. It’s worth noting that when I do finally get on her, she’s fine to ride, but a bit lazy. And when I get off, she puts her head right down to stretch out and looks very sleepy, even if she’s only had 10 minutes exercise!

So.. Ive had her teeth done, saddle fitted, seen by the physio and she’s also been checked for stomach ulcers. The physico and vet agreed they think there’s something more.. she said her muscles were tight but more in response her to working them.
My vets now suggested a bute trial. But a friend of mine has said her horse had similar symptoms and ended up having PSSM. First time I’ve heard of it and after a google I think it’s possible but not sure!! Can anyway give some advice if they’ve had experience with PSSM. She’s in light work (mainly because of the issues). Lives Out 24/7 and only on grass, happy hoof and a low cal balancer.
 

SEL

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Did she scope clear for ulcers? Saddle checked? You are possibly describing a muscle condition but I'd also query her back.

Horses get very little vitamin E in winter and that's one thing you can supplement that sometimes makes a huge difference. I use Forage plus natural vitamin E but other brands are around - must be natural not synthetic.

Testing for type 1 PSSM is cheap and can be done off a hair sample. I've no idea of the prevalence in the hackney though. Worth asking for blood tests including selenium because a lack of that &/or vitamin E (they work in synergy) can present just like a myopathy.
 

SpotsandBays

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No experience personally, but if you’re on Facebook there’s a few PSSM groups that are worth checking out. Lots of information etc on there
 

paddy555

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Horses get very little vitamin E in winter and that's one thing you can supplement that sometimes makes a huge difference. I use Forage plus natural vitamin E but other brands are around - must be natural not synthetic.

Testing for type 1 PSSM is cheap and can be done off a hair sample. I've no idea of the prevalence in the hackney though. Worth asking for blood tests including selenium because a lack of that &/or vitamin E (they work in synergy) can present just like a myopathy.

could be lots of things but as a starting point I would give high dose natural vit E for a month at least probably around 8/10000iu and also make sure she is well rugged, not allowed to get cold or wet.The link below will tell you about vit e and also PSSM1 and PSSM2. I found one reference to a hackney X with pssm1.

To start with I would be trying to see if she is vit E deficient.
I would also test for type 1 which is only around £40 and you can pull the hairs yourself and you don't need a vet.

https://cvm.msu.edu/research/facult...g-laboratory/selecting-a-vitamin-e-supplement

I would also get a blood test if you haven't already done so. I would be looking to see if CK and AST were high. If you blood test now you could also test vit E levels.(before you start supplementing) Even after blood testing I would still supplement vit E.during the winter especially. Mine get supplemented with vit e all year round. From Oct - Mar there is very little in grass or hay.
Whatever you do only do try one thing at once or you won't know what has worked.
Do you get on with the previous owner? can you discuss it with them in case they fed or did anything different.
 

Suzie94

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could be lots of things but as a starting point I would give high dose natural vit E for a month at least probably around 8/10000iu and also make sure she is well rugged, not allowed to get cold or wet.The link below will tell you about vit e and also PSSM1 and PSSM2. I found one reference to a hackney X with pssm1.

To start with I would be trying to see if she is vit E deficient.
I would also test for type 1 which is only around £40 and you can pull the hairs yourself and you don't need a vet.

https://cvm.msu.edu/research/facult...g-laboratory/selecting-a-vitamin-e-supplement

I would also get a blood test if you haven't already done so. I would be looking to see if CK and AST were high. If you blood test now you could also test vit E levels.(before you start supplementing) Even after blood testing I would still supplement vit E.during the winter especially. Mine get supplemented with vit e all year round. From Oct - Mar there is very little in grass or hay.
Whatever you do only do try one thing at once or you won't know what has worked.
Do you get on with the previous owner? can you discuss it with them in case they fed or did anything different.

Thank you so much for this. I’ve been researching it lots myself since hearing about it and my physio also suggested it as an option to look into after ruling out ulcers. She is on a very low starch and sugar diet so I don’t know how I could adjust her diet to help really! But after the bute trial the vets told me to do, I’ll ask for the blood test and start giving her VIt E. and in the mean time I’ll do the hair test.
 

shortstuff99

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It is worth looking into but be aware a lot of the PSSM groups will put everything down to PSSM, and then stop looking for anything else.

PSSM 1 is an easy and cheap genetic test and is worth doing.

PSSM 2 genetic test is expensive and while somewhat useful there is no proven link between the variants and expression of disease.
 

Dexter

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PSSM 2 genetic test is expensive and while somewhat useful there is no proven link between the variants and expression of disease.

I thought that was only in 25% of horses? Admittedly its a while since I looked into type 2, but I'm sure that was what I read.
 

Nudibranch

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What SS says.
Before pssm you need to properly exclude statistically more likely issues. Scope for ulcers (sounds like ulcers was my first thought), lameness workup, back seen by a vet not a physio.
I see way too much being attributed to pssm on social media and its a shame for the poor horses. Some fairly obvious lameness issues from arthritis for example. And this is from someone whose horse does actually have it (she tied up and her bloodlines carry the P3 and 4 variants).
 

Suzie94

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As I said in the original post, she’s been checked for ulcers and had a vet & physio check on her back and overall body. This is why I’m now looking into other possibilities
 
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