Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dianna McPhail on March 25, 2009 at 8:54pm

Dear Cassandra,
I feel so much empathy for you and your horse. Where are you?
I am wondering if there is a Animal bowen practitioner in the area.
It is an alternative therapy that has the ability to help a horse
neurologically. If the symptoms are similar to EPM, and wobblers, then
you might be on the right track with neurological approach here.

This following info came from a vet that I work with: "Also, there is another possible cause and I will get this to you.In other breeds (they think about 20% of stock horse breeds have it), somw of the most common complaints are just that they “don’t use their hind end well”, “cant get his butt under him”, “short strided”, “just not as good of a mover as he’s bred and built to be”. In the more severe forms the horses actually tie up. Any horse that has tied up more than once in it’s life should DEFINITELY be tested for PSSM in my opinion.

In a lot of PSSM guys you can pull some blood work and see increased muscle enzymes. Some are increased even at rest, but some you just work them moderately hard for 20-30 minutes, then draw their blood 4-8 hours later. In a normal horse their muscle number will be normal, but in a PSSM horse they will usually be high (for some reason drafts don’t seem to show the bloodwork changes). The way to 100% diagnose it is to do a muscle biopsy and send it in to the lab at Minnesota. Minnesota also recently came out with a DNA test, but it only tests for 1 type of PSSM, and they think there are 2-3 forms of it."
Let me know how else I may be of help. You can email me direct at: touchahorse@yahoo.com

Permalink Reply by cassandra vinckers on March 25, 2009 at 9:55pm

thanks i am between barrie and orillia,ontario--will search for a bowen therapist tomorrow-he is very unstable at the moment and fell over just watching me muck today- he was panicky at first when the onset (sun nite) but all of his funky moves make a horrid sort of sense now- what is pssm?

Permalink Reply by Sandra Leatherwood on May 6, 2009 at 9:39pm

UC Davis veterinary hospital in Davis, CA outside of Sacramento has done extensive testing for cerebellar abiotrophy. There is a new blood test to show if your horse has this disease, is a carrier, or not a carrier. A very worthwhile investment for all owners of the arabian horse. I don't think that cerebellar abiotrophy shows itself at such an advanced age. Usually is apparent at 3-4 months from the 3 cases that I have seen myself. If you should breed a carrier to a non-carrier, the foal will be most likely a carrier, but not exhibit the disease manifestations. This is a very important and major development...as important as the blood test for SCID.

Permalink Reply by trina gifford on August 3, 2009 at 5:02pm

here is a link to the CA wesite for all that need it.. cerebellarabiotrophy.webs.com/
we had a ca affected foal in 2008. we put her down as a 6 month old. she always was falling down..
this is a very sad conidtion...... not a disease..
it can be prevented.