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  Discussion on Tying up
Author Message
Member:
Dandy234

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 18, 2006 - 12:11 am:

Hi Dr. O

I have a 10 year old Holsteiner who is competing at 2nd level dressage this year. He is an easy keeper and the first year we had him he was monitored closely for weight and food (oat/alf cubes & grass hay) and did very well. He moved to a new barn about 4 months ago and was over-fed .... he was getting ~14 pounds oat in the AM and 14 pounds alfalfa in the PM plus about a quart of senior with molasses. He is very fat and right before this episode he missed a couple days of work.

A week ago he had a very mild tie-up episode, he got stiff behind and wouldn't step under like he normally does. Luckily the trainer knew he didn't feel right and it wasn't just a behavioral thing and stopped his work. There was no sweating or trembling and he looked fine. She said his butt muscles were a bit tighter than normal.

Blood tests the next day revealed:
AST of > 600 - they didn't dilute it (normal = 100-600)
CK of 2036 (normal = 10-350)

We switched him to 7 pounds grass/alfalfa (80/20) AM/PM, 2 g bute/day + 8000 units of Vitamine E. He gets about a pint of Rice Bran pellets with the vit E + bute and also his normal Hylasport and NuHoof Maximizer. We are not in a selenium deficient area. He has been getting turn-out for a couple hours/day where he just stands or walks around a large paddock and also ridden at a quiet walk for about 30 mins/day. His walk appears normal and he is bright and feels good.

Today (one week later) his blood values are:

AST: still >600
CK: 339 (normal = 10-350)

With the original AST being high it looks like he had a previous insult but we honestly don't remember any specific day that he was stiff. Do you have suggestions of a course of action regarding feed (is the feed OK?) and how and when we should bring him back to work. Do we wait for the AST to come to normal?

Thanks
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 19, 2006 - 8:28 am:

I disagree with your interpretation of the AST levels though it does not peak for 24 to 48 hrs, it should still be going up by the next day of the incident.

I would wait to begin anything serious undersaddle exercise until the AST is normal and follow the recommendations in the article for pasture exercise. The standing around in the paddock is not helping much. I would watch like a hawk for recurrence in the pasture though.

Concerning the diet, the question is, "does this represent a chronic metabolic process like a polysaccharide storage disease or perhaps just a one time episode of cramps". If you and your vet believe it might be, and your post also suggests it might be, I would institute the recommended diet for such conditions. Of course you know what worked in the past prior to the move, perhaps just going back would help? I would sub alfalfa or better if protein and vitamin requirements are already met, oil, for the oats however making.
DrO
Member:
Dandy234

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 19, 2006 - 11:45 am:

Thanks Dr. O. I thought that with both values being high that there was "chronic ongoing muscle damage". I'm hoping it is just a one time thing.

Unfortunately the stable he is at does not have pasture or stall/paddocks. His stall is 12x16 and the turnout is probably 60x60. I have access to a 20x60 paddock but it is a 45 minute trailer ride away and I am afraid trailering might make things worse.

I don't believe he has the metabolic problem but I changed his diet just in case. I didn't understand your last comment about the alfalfa.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jul 20, 2006 - 10:23 am:

Though fat is an excellent source of energy it is devoid of other nutrients and alfalfa is a rich source of these nutrients.
DrO
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