Horse health webinar: Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy Explained

Christine Skelly<skellych@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension - November 14, 2017

Check out the free horse health webinar: "Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy Explained" on November 14.

Dr. Stephanie Valberg, Mary Anne McPhail Dressage Chair in Equine Sports Medicine at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, riding cross county.

On Nov. 14, 2017, Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicineveterinarian Dr. Stephanie Valberg will present a webinar explaining Polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) a muscle disease in horses. The free webinar will take place at 7 p.m. and is sponsored by My Horse University, an online horse management program, based out of Michigan State University Extension.

Polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) is a muscle disease that causes horses to develop muscle pain, tying-up and exercise intolerance. To date two forms of PSSM are described: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 PSSM is caused by a genetic mutation in the glycogen synthase 1 gene which causes excessive storage of sugar (glycogen) in skeletal muscle. Clinical trials have shown that horses with type 1 PSSM respond well to low starch, high fat diets and regular exercise. Much less in known about type 2 PSSM since the cause or causes have yet to be determined and clinical trials have not been performed to study diet and exercise responses. The Michigan State University Equine Neuromuscular Diagnostic Laboratory, in the College of Veterinary Medicine, has received muscle biopsies from hundreds of horses diagnosed with type 2 PSSM based on the microscopic appearance of glycogen in muscle samples. They asked horse owners to provide information on how well their horses responded to diet and exercise recommendations. The goal of the Nov. 14 webinar is to describe the symptoms reported for horses diagnosed with type 2 PSSM by muscle biopsy and to review the information which wasanalyzed from responses provided by horse owners. This is also an opportunity to thank the owners of type 2 PSSM horses that took the time to answer questions and share their experiences with other owners.

To learn more about Polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM), Michigan State University Extension recommends that horse owners join My Horse University for a FREE webinar on Tuesday, Nov.14 at 7 p.m. by Register now.

Presenter, Dr. Stephanie Valberg, DVM, PhD, is the Mary Anne McPhail Dressage Chair in Equine Sports Medicine at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Valberg’s research centers on neuromuscular diseases in horses with a special focus on genetic diseases of skeletal muscle and their nutritional management.

Research was funded by the American Quarter Horse Association, Morris Animal Foundation and the endowment of the Mary Anne McPhail Dressage Chair.

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