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Discussion on Stringhalt vs. EPSM
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Member:
Cassey
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Posted on Friday, Jan 31, 2003 - 3:13 pm:
Hi Dr. O,
Have your observations borne out this theory (as outlined at Rural Heritage Vet Clinic).... stringhalt causes a horse to pull their leg in when lifted and allowed to be put back down vs. EPSM where they will push their leg out upon allowing return to the ground. I ask because my elderly Percheron cross mare, during the very cold weather, was showing some signs of what looked like stringhalt, jerking up towards the belly at trot, bringing feet up to belly while standing. But, when I lift her back feet and allow her to put them down, they definitely deviate outwards, happens on both sides. The first couple times, I thought she was deliberately trying to stomp on my foot, although this would be very out of character for her. These signs have decreased as the weather has become milder. This differentiating sign is not mentioned in your articles, so I would be interested in your feedback. I would certainly try the EPSM diet if I thought it was necessary, but hate to put her through any more changes, she has had a very busy six months, lots of stress and some feed changes already.
Thanks,
Deanna
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Feb 1, 2003 - 8:22 am:
I really do not know D. I have never seen a horse with the "shivers" complex of clinical signs they describe. Horses I see with EPSM have the more normal signs of tying up: generalized muscle stiffness and pain with elevated levels of muscle enzymes. I only have a few cold bloods however in the practice and this is the breed most commonly associated with the shiver symptoms. We have several members with the hot breeds who have had problems with shiver like signs that improved following the recommended diet change.
Your Percheron is at increase risk for this so if this is a problem for you or the horse you may want to evaluate replacing some of the carbohydrate in the diet with fat. Muscle enzymes would be interesting but with such mld symptoms the shivers experts tell me they may not be diagnostic.
DrO
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Member:
Cassey
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Posted on Tuesday, Apr 29, 2003 - 9:00 pm:
Thought I would give an update on my horse. She was started on the high fat diet on Feb. 2nd after email discussion with Dr. Valentine. She gets almost 1 1/2 cups of oil, 1/2 lb. senior food with about six soaked hay cubes (just to help soak up the oil), morning and evening. A flake of really good alfalfa and a daily multivit round out her breakfast and dinner, with free choice poorer quality hay during her 24/7 turnout. The physical changes are wonderful to behold. She has a nice topline now, her belly has trimmed up (still have a ways to go, but there is improvement), her ribs are no longer prominent, her sway back looks better, and my son told me she's so shiny it hurt his eyes  She doesn't exhibit the hindleg pull up behaviour any more (at least not when I've been with her), her trot is not nearly as short and stabby, nor does she "slap" the ground when landing as much as she used to. Her muscles are shaping up really well too, which may account for the decrease in stumbling I've noticed. The barn owner told me Cassey "has a butt to die for" the other day (must be the QH blood), I hardly ever think of her as "elderly" anymore (even though she really is). All in all, the diet was, for us, an inexpensive intervention that seems to be addressing a number of perplexing symptoms. I would love to hear from others who have experienced this type of situation.
D
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Apr 29, 2003 - 10:10 pm:
That is delightful D. Let us know if it continues.
DrO
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Member:
Cassey
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 7, 2004 - 12:09 am:
Thought I would give a quick update. Things have only continued to improve with this wonderful horse. She is looking even better as the months have gone by, as she continues on the high fat diet. She is doing well with some really simple dressage moves, is able to do some nice collection, and canters readily now, always a problem before. We go on hours-long trail rides, and she doesn't stumble or lag behind. She does get ventipulmin for COPD, as needed,, mostly in hot humid weather. All in all, a huge success story for the EPSM diet.
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