I have a 4 y/o QH mare that I bred, raised & trained under saddle.  Last summer (as a 3 y/o and her first year under saddle) she tied up 4 times.  The 3rd & 4th time that it happened she was on a diet modified for PSSM symptoms and I was also giving her a Selenium/Vitamin E supplement.  Late last year a muscle biopsy confirmed that she is PSSM (rather than tying up because of a selenium deficiency or other reason).  I am following the Veterinary specialists' recommendations regarding diet (low starch, adding oil, additional Vit E, etc).   She is turned out 23 hours/day but really doesn't self exercise much at all.

I'm looking for other suggestions for management.  Regular exercise is recommended (difficult at this time of year because there is thick shoe-sucking mud everywhere!) for PSSM horses.  Does anyone have other management ideas?  I had big plans for trail riding and a Ranch Horse competition now and then.  The frequency of her episodes makes me wonder if her future is doomed.  Thanks.

Please tell us you will spay the mare.  It seems NSAID's are the drug of choice and hot blankets, but even light work will set off an attack, so it looks like no matter what you do you are rolling the dice.

Have you looked into donating her to a veterinary college?

Doesn't this get worse with age?  If she has an episode in new places with lots of stimuli, you can rule out shows.

Either donate her, or find some little old lady that likes pasture art and give her away.  Keeping her around will only tempt you into using her.

Have you found out if the gene came from her sire or dam?  I think you should notify the owners of both so they can get tested.  If people had done the right thing in the first place maybe HYPP wouldn't be a black eye in the QH world.

I completely agree, but that brings me back to redefining "responsible breeder."

I have read it somewhere that if a horse has 2 bad copies of the HERDA gene, they usually die before breeding age.  (One person stated that this alone would self-limit HERDA.)  I am horrified by that, what a horrible fate.

But PSSM, is more unusual in that it appears in SEVERAL breeds of horses, so it might not have a traceable ancestor like HYPP and HERDA.  That makes this more scary to me.

bbsmfg3:  Could you share the source of the information you posted?  I haven't heard ANYTHING about PSSM horses being intolerant of protein; in fact, Drs. Valentine, McCue, Valberg, et al recommend a diet low in starch as PSSM is an inability to properly metabolize sugar (hence lower starch diet).  It is related to a genetic mutation and therefore, is, indeed genetic.  They go as far as recommending corn or vegetable oil over soaked alfalfa cubes as a regular part of the diet.

I have been communicating with a large regional veterinary hospital (for the initial muscle biopsy and follow up after diagnosis).  Their information comes from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.  I promise I have someone "well versed" giving me advice ;-).

I'd also like to know your source for the information about a DMSO IV.  That is just plain scarey: DMSO is a solvent - I can't imagine when it'd be ok to use it intravenously.

If you'd like more information, feel free to check the website @ http://www.cvm.umn.edu/umec/lab/Advances_in_PSSM/home.html.  As I said, your information seems very contrary to the research and information I have been reading.  I would be interested to see where you got your information.

Thanks

bbsmfg3:  I really would like to see the websites or info that you are citing.  Dr. Beth Valentine is currently one of the leading recognized experts in treating PSSM/EPSM horses, as is the U of MN the leader in PSSM research.  They each recommend a diet with soaked alfalfa cubes or pellets, along with a normal-to-high protein diet, low starch/sugar with added dietary fat.  I haven't found any information (after numerous google searches) to contradict that advice.

I am looking for other advice because I have nothing better to do right now.  It would be pointless and counter-productive to try to longe or exercise her when it is impossible to do so with regularity, so I don't know whether or not it is working.  While she is turned out for the winter, I'm doing my homework/building a reference file.  Come spring time I'll have a full arsenal of information and will be ready should our current regimen not work.

I really would like to see your sources of information. 

Thanks again.

Well , since 1960 we have learned lots.

We also have a QH with PSSM.

Based on vets advise, we are currently modifying his feed to increase protien, decrease carbs. We will be starting with short daily exercise in the next few weeks. Dr. Valberg's research and recommendations seem to be the most referenced. Has it worked for you so far? I read all the posts responding to your question of Jan. 18, 2010 and was wondering how things are working out and how your horse is responding?

Do you have any advice, observations or cautions you can share?

Thank you.

Things have been going reasonably well.  She has not had an episode since last fall (before her actual diagnosis).  She is on a low starch ration; I add vitamin E, a calming supplement amd top dress with vegetable oil.  She is in light use and has been doing well.  If I take her anywhere to ride, I dose with acepromazine (per vet's approval/instructions).  I don't know what jher future holds, but things are not looking as dismal now as 4 months ago :).  Good luck with your horse.