Forthcoming Events

Atypical Myopathy Latest News

Vets around the South of the UK have been reporting a recent outbreak of Atypical Myopathy, and we have now seen our first case within the practice, and 5 others reported by neighboring practices. This severe and usually sudden disease may appear to be like the signs of “Tying up”, and the muscles are affected in a similar way, except there is no history of recent exercise. More often than not it is very young horses or very old horses which are affected. Signs to look out for include:
* Weakness and stiffness in horses at pasture 
* Sweating
* Dark coloured urine
* Collapse
* Muscle tremors
Early treatment appears to be key to survival, and signs can sometimes come on in well under an hour.

Further information see below:-

Atypical Myopathy Latest News from BEVA

Liphook Equine Hospital (LEH) would like to alert colleagues that they have diagnosed five cases of atypical myopathy (myoblobinuria/myoglobinaemia) in the past seven days.  LEH are also aware of a further four cases attended by veterinarians which have died in the Hampshire/Sussex/Surrey area.  They have advised that co-grazing horses should be removed from affected pastures.

Cases have been treated with analgesics (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, lidocaine), parenteral nutrition, isotonic intravenous fluids, nasogastric laxatives and supportive nursing care, multivitamin supplementation and electrolyte optimisation.  LEH's current survival rate (two of five horses are alive) supports previously published survival rates of 10-25%.

At the time of referral these horses demonstrated recognisable signs of atypical myopathy such as sweating, increased respiratory rate and effort, muscle fasciculations, reluctance to walk, tachycardia, tachyarythmias and increased periods of recumbency. All had dark brown urine (myoglobin) with marked elevations in CK (creatinine kinase), LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) and AST (aspartate aminotransferase) (CK levels 55,000 to 89,000 iu/L) and moderate acute inflammatory responses (serum amyloid A; 80-120 mg/L).

Notably, for a day or two prior to referral these horses displayed clinical signs less well recognised in atypical myopathy cases. These signs included:-

  • vigorous head shaking and nodding
  • frenzied vocalisation
  • recurrent choke-like retching neck spasms without a persistent oesophageal obstruction
  • stiffness and lethargy when ridden.

This alert aims to draw attention to this recent outbreak of atypical myopathy and these unusual early signs of the disease, in order that new cases may be detected and treated promptly and so that co-grazing horses may be removed from affected pastures as soon as suspicions are raised.

Further information for vets can be obtained from the following website: http://www.myopathieatypique.fr/en/ .  Vets are also encouraged to report cases to Dominique Votion (dominique.votion@ulg.ac.be) who co-ordinates the AM website above and their associated alert group.


If you have any concerns please do not hesitate to call us.

 

Zone Visits

As from September 2011 we introduced free Zone Visits

click here for more info on Zone Visits

Free Visit

If you have five or more horses to be seen on one visit there will be no visit charge. This offer applies to horses seen on one yard and also to horses seen within a two mile radius of each other when arranged on the same call. Please call the office to arrange a time suitable for all concerned.