TYING UP
Tye-up is also called Rhabdomyolysis. It occurs when abnormal alterations occur in the physiology of muscles, a horse may experience painful, uncontrollable, and continuous muscle contractions. This condition is called tying-up, or rhabdomyolysis, and is comparable to severe cramps that a human might experience.
The common signs of a horse that has tied up are :
Excessive sweating
Quick and shallow breathing,
Rapid heart rate,
Muscle tremors
Difficulty in moving
Sometimes discoloured urine due to the release of myoglobin from damaged muscle tissue.
There can be various causes and also different types of tye-up, from a simple dietary imbalance (e.g., too high a grain ratio), to insufficient electrolytes, complex hormone imbalances, genetic disposition and cellular inter-reactions to minerals like selenium and Vitamin E.
Some types are called:
ER -exertional rhabdomyolysis
RER (recurrent ER)
PSSM – Polysaccharide storage myopathy (genetic)
Non exercise associated rhabdomyolysis – inflammatory – nutritional- toxic
The services of a veterinarian are always required in order to determine the cause, assist with pain reduction and also blood test to determine if muscle damage has occurred.
Good management is required to prevent episodes, such as demanding strenuous exercise followed by a sudden rest period (especially if stabled) Reducing starchy ( grain feeds) in any rest or turnout period, Removing grain altogether from vulnerable horses , eq quarter horses with diagnosed PSSM. Managing hormonal issues with mares prone to tye-up. Maintaining good balanced nutrition, supplementing with products to aids digestion, assessing a need for Vitamin E and selenium as supplements. Substituting useful fat for energy source instead of grain.
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