TY - JOUR
T1 - Epidemiologic characteristics and management of polysaccharide storage myopathy in Quarter Horses
AU - Firshman, Anna M.
AU - Valberg, Stephanie J
AU - Bender, Jeffrey B.
AU - Finno, Carrie J
PY - 2003/10/1
Y1 - 2003/10/1
N2 - Objective - To characterize onset and clinical signs of polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) in a well-defined population of affected Quarter Horses, identify risk factors for PSSM, determine compliance of owners to dietary and exercise recommendations, and evaluate the efficacy of dietary and exercise recommendations. Animals - 40 Quarter Horses with PSSM and 37 unaffected control horses. Procedures - Owners of horses with PSSM completed a retrospective questionnaire concerning their horse's condition. Results - Between horses with PSSM and control horses, no significant differences were found in sex distribution (21 vs 15 females and 16 vs 22 males, respectively), temperament, muscle build, diet, or amount of turnout. In horses with PSSM, signs of muscle stiffness, muscle fasciculations, sweating, exercise intolerance, weakness, muscle wasting, reluctance to move, colic, abnormal gait, recumbency, lameness, and swollen muscles began between the age of 1 day and 14 years (mean age, 4.9 ± 3.5 years). Five horses with PSSM developed acute muscle atrophy. Sixty-three percent (25/40) of owners fed the recommended diet, 55% (22/40) provided regular exercise, and 40% (16/40) followed both dietary and exercise recommendations. Owners of affected horses for which a decrease in severity or frequency of PSSM was not found did not follow the exercise, dietary, or both recommendations. All horses for which both dietary and exercise recommendations were followed had improvement in signs of PSSM. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance - In addition to exertional rhabdomyolysis, signs of PSSM include acute muscle atrophy and gait abnormalities. It appears that PSSM can be managed by following dietary recommendations combined with gradual increases in daily exercise.
AB - Objective - To characterize onset and clinical signs of polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) in a well-defined population of affected Quarter Horses, identify risk factors for PSSM, determine compliance of owners to dietary and exercise recommendations, and evaluate the efficacy of dietary and exercise recommendations. Animals - 40 Quarter Horses with PSSM and 37 unaffected control horses. Procedures - Owners of horses with PSSM completed a retrospective questionnaire concerning their horse's condition. Results - Between horses with PSSM and control horses, no significant differences were found in sex distribution (21 vs 15 females and 16 vs 22 males, respectively), temperament, muscle build, diet, or amount of turnout. In horses with PSSM, signs of muscle stiffness, muscle fasciculations, sweating, exercise intolerance, weakness, muscle wasting, reluctance to move, colic, abnormal gait, recumbency, lameness, and swollen muscles began between the age of 1 day and 14 years (mean age, 4.9 ± 3.5 years). Five horses with PSSM developed acute muscle atrophy. Sixty-three percent (25/40) of owners fed the recommended diet, 55% (22/40) provided regular exercise, and 40% (16/40) followed both dietary and exercise recommendations. Owners of affected horses for which a decrease in severity or frequency of PSSM was not found did not follow the exercise, dietary, or both recommendations. All horses for which both dietary and exercise recommendations were followed had improvement in signs of PSSM. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance - In addition to exertional rhabdomyolysis, signs of PSSM include acute muscle atrophy and gait abnormalities. It appears that PSSM can be managed by following dietary recommendations combined with gradual increases in daily exercise.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0141955861&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0141955861&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2460/ajvr.2003.64.1319
DO - 10.2460/ajvr.2003.64.1319
M3 - Article
C2 - 14596472
AN - SCOPUS:0141955861
SN - 0002-9645
VL - 64
SP - 1319
EP - 1327
JO - American journal of veterinary research
JF - American journal of veterinary research
IS - 10
ER -