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  Discussion on Morgan with PSSM
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New Member:
12hooves

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 9, 2009 - 4:48 pm:

For three years now, after lots of reading and observing my 9 year old Morgan, I am convinced he has PSSM. He has every classic symptom. He kicks at his belly after about 30 minutes into a trail ride. If we climb a hill, at the top he starts muscle twitching, and kicking his belly, trying to roll. He stops a lot and does not want to move forward but is such a willing horse that he'll keep going. I have noticed that it is happening more and more often. Sometimes he'll do it while he's in the turnout. He also parks out more than before. We have ruled out electrolyte issues, he gets a low starch-no sugar diet. I feed him half bermuda and half alfalfa, with a no sugar-low starch pellet supplement. What test should I ask my vet for and what diet recommendations if any. }}
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 9, 2009 - 9:48 pm:

Hello hillary,
These are not classic symptoms of PSSM, which is a uncommon disease of Morgans. Instead it sound like symptoms of fly bite irritation to the belly or possibly colic. To rule in PSSM I would request a muscle enzyme panel as described in the article on EPSM/PSSM to see if there is an abnormal rise (greater than 4x normal) in enzyme levels.
DrO
New Member:
12hooves

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 9, 2009 - 10:26 pm:

Dr. O-
My vet said the same thing a year or so ago. He has never coliced. Maybe, as you suggest, he just gets extremely annoyed by bugs. I've just never had a horse react so violently to flying insects. IF it continues to get worse, I'll follow your suggestion to spend the money and have the enzyme panel done.
Thank you so much,
Hillary}}
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 - 8:23 am:

Unusual parking out and kicking at the belly are both common recognizable signs of colic hillary.
DrO
Member:
12hooves

Posted on Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 - 9:30 am:

Thank you Dr. O. We had our vet out several times and he didn't seem to think so. We have his food very regulated according to the vet, had him scoped for ulcers, all the routine stuff. as you suggest maybe he having a mild form of colic-maybe it's gas. This may sound crazy, but in the past, I have given him a couple of large syringes of pepto bismal then walked him gently and it appears to go away. I guess I got away from the colic theory because 90% of the time it happens about 30 minutes into a trail ride and severely after doing any climbing. If he is not drinking enough water in the a m before we go and he's had his breakfast, could this be a contributor. I know that electrolytes can be dangerous in horse doesn't drink much water to begin with. His water temperature is never too warm or too cold either.
thank you,
Hillary}}
Member:
melis2

Posted on Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 - 3:30 pm:

Hillary,
If you haven't already gone to this site, you may want to check it out:

www.ruralheritage.com/vet_clinic/index.htm

Good luck,
Melissa
Member:
12hooves

Posted on Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 - 7:14 pm:

Thank you Melissa. I will check it out.
Hillary
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Sep 11, 2009 - 7:47 am:

Hillary, horses which develop colic during riding is not rare. Differentiating abdominal pain (colic) and muscle pain (tying up) symptoms can be difficult unless you critically look at what is going on: with colic they will not eat and with tying up there is a stiff walk. Which of these happens with your horse. Checking muscle enzymes following one of these episodes as described in the article will also help you rule in or out whether your horse suffers from some form of tying up. The first step here is the accurate diagnosis of what is going on and only then are suggestions for treatment likely to be helpful.
DrO
Member:
12hooves

Posted on Friday, Sep 11, 2009 - 12:04 pm:

Dr O-
He never stops trying to eat during one of these episodes, though I try to stop him. His muscles around his flanks and back get tight and start twitching as well as his shoulder area. When I loosen the saddle and try to do a light message on him, he turns to try to bite me ( very uncharacteristic of him). After a severe bout, I walk him slowly home and the kicking and twitching stop after about 20 minutes. He has the majority of the EPSM symptoms. I've had chiropractors and touch healers-no help. Most of the time he hates to be touched on his back or sides or when saddling. But loves to be touched everywhere else. I have done everything from proper saddle fitting to holistic care. I think my vet didn't want to pursue it becuase he is a Morgan and EPSM or PSSM unlikely. Any diet things or supplements you would suggest in the short term?
Thank you for any comments you may have,
Hillary}
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Sep 12, 2009 - 9:14 am:

Hillary,
Hard feeling muscles, that are twitching, and painful to palpation does sound like tying up but you still don't list the most important symptom: a stiff walk when it occurs. And though you continue to say he has most of the symptoms of a PSSM I don't really see that in your posts. If he is tying-up it sounds more like exertional rhabdomyolysis but then again I see QH's with milder forms of PSSM that look much like ER.

If you believe this is one of the forms of rhabdomyolysis I suggest you and your veterinarian develop a good diagnostic plan to first confirm this is what is happening then second determine what form your horse suffers from.

As to diet and supplements as a way to help reduce the incidence of tying up this is covered in great detail in the article. Horses suffering from one of the PSSM's may require rigorous adhesion to the plan for months before improvement occurs.
DrO
Member:
12hooves

Posted on Saturday, Sep 12, 2009 - 9:15 pm:

Dr O-
Thank you so much for you input. I'll set an appt with the vet. I had my trainer out yesterday, she spent 2 hours with him on the ground and he was very stiff, kept stopping, and after about 45 min started showing the other classic signs. Some of these things seem pretty hard to diagnose and so many symptoms overlap for so many different possible problems. I appreciate your help and I will let you know when and if we get a diagnosis.
Regards,
Hillary
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