I have just received our vets autumn/witer newsletter and there is an article in it about "atypical myoglobinuria", which I had never heard of so I hope others find it helpfull. My vets are in the Scottish Borders and had 2 cases last year
It is associated with sudden deterioration in the weather and is now widespread in northern europe. It has many similarities with grass sickness.
It tends to affect either individual or groups of horses at pasture.
It has a high mortality rate. Up to 89% of affected horses are reported to die or need to be put to sleep.
It tends to affect animals that receive little or no supplementary feed.
The trigger factor appears to be a sudden adverse change in weather conditions, such as a frost or heavy rain (again similar to grass sickness)
Little is known about what causes the disease.
Many believe it is caused by the ingestion of a pasture-derived clostridial toxin (which is also the case for grass sickness)
Unlike grass sickness however it tends to be most prevelant in late autumn and early winter
Signs to be on the lookout for are.....
Sudden dramatic muscle weakness or stiffness in a horse or horses at pasture and not related to excessive or unusual exercise
Collapse or inability to stand
Usually the temperature, breathing and heart rate are normal
Initially affected horses may be quite bright,even willing to eat and drink while lying down
Some horses can have difficulty breathing or show colicy signs
Like other forms of muscle injury the urine is characteristically thick and dark red/brown
On bloods muscle enzymes are usually high
Treatment needs to be early and aggressive if the horse is to have a chance of survival
This means drips, anti-inflammatory medication and intensive nursing.
Like grass sickness where there has been a positive diagnosis, other horses in the same field should be moved either into stables or a barn or at
least onto different pasture. They should be givensupplementary feeding and have blood taken to check their muscle enzyme levels.
Ensuringthat there is adequate grass and giving supplimentary feeding is also advisable when adverse weather places young stock at risk!
Topic: Grass Sickness's little brother (Read 2690 times)
