What Is The Difference Between Pssm And Hypp In Horses?

Type 1 PSSM is a common cause for tie-up signs in Quarter Horses, Paints, Appaloosas, and warmbloods. PSSM can often be managed with diet and exercise changes but there is no cure or medication used to treat it. HYPP is an inherited muscle disease causing an abnormality in how muscle cells manage electrolytes.

Is HYPP the same as PSSM?

Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis HYPP is a completely separate muscle disorder in Quarter Horses from PSSM1. The two diseases have different clinical signs, different causes and different treatments.

What does a horse with PSSM look like?

Clinical signs of PSSM range from mild to severe. They include sweating, lameness, sore muscles, undiagnosed lameness, poor performance, and muscle tremors (“tying up”). These may occur with or without exercise. Under saddle, affected horses may be reluctant to go forward or collect.

How do you know if your horse has HYPP?

HYPP is characterized by muscle tremors, weakness, paralysis, and collapse. Attacks are sporadic and can be accompanied by loud breathing due to paralysis of airway muscles. Sudden death can occur due to heart failure or respiratory muscle paralysis.

What triggers HYPP in horses?

HYPP results from a mutation in the muscle’s sodium channel. The channel becomes leaky, which causes the muscle to be more sensitive. As a result the muscles contract involuntarily with blood potassium changes. This can occur with stress or fasting followed by eating high potassium feed like alfalfa.

What types of food should be avoided with HYPP?

Commercial feeds that contain large amounts of soybean meal, soybean or canola oil, dehydrated alfalfa (lucerne), or molasses should be avoided. Suitable energy sources include oats, corn, barley, and unmolassed or rinsed beet pulp.

Do all Impressive horses have HYPP?

In 1992, researchers designated the Impressive line of horses as carriers. Not all horses of that line had HYPP, but all horses with HYPP were descended from Impressive himself. In 1994, a genetic test that utilized DNA from hair or blood, was perfected, this determined whether a horse had HYPP or not.

What is the best feed for a horse with PSSM?

Many PSSM horses tend to be easy keepers, making high-fat diets hard to feed without resulting in obesity. For horses with high calorie requirements that need higher fat, Purina^® Ultium^® Competition horse feed has been helpful in managing many PSSM horses.

Can horses with PSSM eat grass?

Forage and feed choices for PSSM horses are centered on minimizing sugar and starch intake. Forage requirements. Forage can be supplied as pasture, hay, or hay alternatives such as pellets or cubes. Well-maintained pastures should contain low-sugar grasses and few legumes (clover, alfalfa or lucerne).

What age does PSSM show up in horses?

six years of age
Some horses with type 1 PSSM are asymptomatic, but most horses with the genetic defect will begin to show signs of PSSM by six years of age. Valberg cautioned that the signs of PSSM can begin as early as one year of age and as late as the mid-teens.

Can you ride a horse with HYPP?

Should an HYPP-positive horse be ridden? According to Dr. Spier’s studies, the chance of a paralysis episode occurring while the horse is being ridden is unlikely. However, muscle spasms are unpredictable and can occur with only slight symptoms.

How do you test for HYPP?

A DNA test now has been developed and presently is available at University of California at Davis to identify horses carrying the defective gene causing HYPP. This test detects the presence or absence of the specific genetic mutation which has been found in the extended pedigree of Impressive descen- dants.

How do you treat HYPP in horses?

Treatment of HYPP attacks by intravenous application of calcium gluconate, bicarbonate and glucose results in rapid recovery. Consequent dietary management and daily administration of acetazolamide effectively controls the disease.

How do you treat PSSM in horses?

You can manage PSSM in your horse by providing an alternate energy source to sugar. Avoid feeding grains, sweet feeds and other feedstuffs high in sugar. Fat can be a great alternative. Rice bran or vegetable oils can stabilize blood sugar and provide energy.

How did Impressive get HYPP?

The Genetics – HYPP is an autosomal dominant gene mutation, which means it is not gender linked, all offspring are affected and will pass the gene on to their offspring. Horses of the Impressive line that do not show symptoms still carry the gene and will pass it on.

What bloodlines carry HYPP?

The bloodline of the stallion Impressive dominated the American Quarter Horse world for many years. Today it is well known as a direct link to a genetic illness called HYPP or hyperkalemic periodic paralysis. This disease causes the muscle cells in a horse to be unable to handle any potassium that they eat.

What hay is lowest in potassium?

Oat hay and grass hay are the lowest in potassium.

What food blocks potassium absorption?

Consuming a lot of sodium can cause an imbalance in your potassium levels because the two minerals work together to maintain a normal balance of fluids in the cells. Too much sodium causes potassium to be eliminated from the body through urination, which can lead to low levels of the mineral.

What drinks help with potassium?

Juice from potassium-rich fruit is also a good choice:

• Orange juice.
• Tomato juice.
• Prune juice.
• Apricot juice.
• Grapefruit juice.

How do you manage HYPP?

HYPP horse should be maintained on a low-potassium diet and should be turned out as much as possible. If turn out is limited then they should be put on a program of regular light exercise. Regular exercise helps prevent attacks.

What is the rarest horse coat color?

Among racehorses, there are many successful colors: bay, chestnut, and brown horses win a lot of races. Pure white is the rarest horse color.