Should you breed a horse with PSSM1?

PSSM1 is rare to nonexistent in some breeds and therefore testing is not recommended for horses with tying up in breeds such as Arabians, Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds.

How do horses manage PSSM?

A PSSM horse will always have the condition and may experience episodes of tying up, but they can be better managed through diet manipulation and regular exercise. Both diet and exercise are equally important in the management of this condition.

What causes PSSM in horses?

A genetic mutation in the glycogen synthase 1 (GYS1) gene causes PSSM Type 1 (PSSM1). The mutation causes muscle cells to produce glycogen continually. Since it is an autosomal dominant trait, only one copy of the mutation is needed for a horse to be affected.

Why do horses shake their body?

The purpose of the muscle vibration is to generate heat and raise body temperature. However, horses will also sometimes shiver if they have a fever, are stressed, are experiencing abdominal pain (colic), or are recovering from anesthesia.

Is PSSM1 dominant or recessive?

PSSM1 is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, which means a single copy of the PSSM1 variant can cause symptoms of disease.

Can you ride a horse with PSSM?

Once conditioned, some PSSM horses thrive with four days of exercise as long as they receive daily turnout. For riding horses with type 2 PSSM, a prolonged warm-up with adequate stretching is recommended.”

What horses should not eat PSSM?

When designing a feeding program for horses with PSSM it is important to limit energy sources containing high starch ingredients such as sweet feed, corn, wheat, oats, barley, and molasses. High fat concentrates should be used as alternative energy sources in exercising horses.

Can PSSM horses be ridden?

What does PSSM N N mean?

Mode of Inheritance: Autosomal dominant. Alleles: N = Normal, PSSM1 = Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy Type I. Breeds appropriate for testing: Quarter Horses and related breeds including Paint Horses, Appaloosas, and Pony of the Americas.

What percentage of horses have PSSM?

In today’s horse breeds, Valberg stated that the estimated prevalence of type 1 PSSM in halter-bred Quarter Horses is the highest in that breed (28\% affected), with the general Quarter Horse population ranging from 6-10\% affected. Racing Quarter Horses seem to have the lowest frequency of type 1 PSSM within the breed.

What does horse head bobbing mean?

Horses nod their heads as a signal of energy, excitement, or irritation. They also nod when bothered by ear infections and insects. Horses that lower and raise their heads in a calm, controlled manner may be showing a sign of submission to convey a simple hello.

Why does my horse head but me?

A horse that headbutts is often simply trying to connect with a human, but the action can also signal the horse’s desire for control of a situation. If a horse is head-butting to show his bond with his handler, offering the horse a gentler option such as rubbing on an arm or shoulder is helpful.