Clinical Trial: EPSM/PSSM
Merlin's Case History
Belgian warmblood, 1/4 TB, age 6, grey, 1,700 lbs., 17 H
Dx by University of Minnesota, veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory “Moderate Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM), resembles type 2, but genetic testing would be required to definitely rule out type 1 PSSM.”
Condition of horse: Looks good for weight, but no energy and any amount of trotting taxes him.Stumbles and shuffles and cannot pick up his feet.
History: Appears from old photos to have gotten off to a difficult start. Looks like contracted tendons and epiphysitis have compromised his early life for a time. Owner reports that he was born severely parrot mouthed and took 12 hours to be able to latch on and nurse.
Possible environmental contamination exposure: mine tailings in area, known for heavy metals
Hair analysis shows high concentrations of heavy metals including thorium, which is radioactive.
Hair Analysis:
In the owner’s words: “Merlin is a 6 year old registered Belgian Warmblood gelding. I purchased his mother (Cali - Belgian WB/TB) as a 5 month old and had her until she died at 12 years of age. She gave birth to Merlin as a 9 year old. His father is Belgian Warmblood stallion Rolando, sire of Robert Dover's 2000 Olympic mount Ranier.
I know now that Merlin's intermittent lameness issues and general lack of energy begins with his mother, Cali. Merlin has recently been diagnosed with Type I PSSM, a heritable metabolic/muscular disorder that is diagnosed via a muscle biopsy. 10-12 years ago when I was experiencing similar problems with Cali, there was no test and vets were stymied as to the cause of her intermittent lameness and lack of energy problems. It got so bad that one day after months and months of frustrating training, I mounted Cali to ride in a lesson and immediately felt that something was wrong, I felt her knees buckle underneath me and she could barely stand up. I said to my trainer, "she feels like she is going to fall over". My trainer suggested I get off, remove the saddle and allow her to roll if she wanted to. Beautiful Cali laid down in the dirt with her knees tucked up and rested her chin in the dirt - no rolling, nothing, she didn't move for over a half an hour. I, nor my trainer, had ever seen anything like it. I was in tears knowing that there was something very wrong. She was so tired she literally could not stand up. Of course I called the vet and he came out and simply said "I think she's colic-ing", he oiled her and left. I knew this wasn't colic, he just needed to have an answer and that was the most simple explanation. My trainer suggested I contact Linsey McLean, biochemist for Vita Royal Products, to consult with her on a nutritional program. Linsey explained to me that Cali basically had a horsey version of "industrial disease/environmentally driven illness” - her standard pelleted feed diet was deficient of nutrient value and it was likely that she was sensitive to environmental toxins. Linsey suggested changes to a more natural diet that was nutritionally balanced and she improved dramatically within a short period of time. She lived the rest of her life on a simple balanced, nutritionally sound diet and died at 12 from unrelated problems. Little did I know that 12 years later I would be contacting Linsey again with similar frustrations and training issues - lack of energy and intermittent/undiagnosable lameness. There is nothing on radiographs, some days the horse is sound, some days he can hardly move. You ride each day thinking "this horse is supposed to get stronger, more balanced and it's supposed to get easier". It doesn't, they are getting weaker and weaker, stumbling more and more, one day your horse almost falls over, you certainly can't canter or ride outside, you'll be taking your life in your hands... there is a big problem. The only difference now is this time, it is her son Merlin.
Merlin was born so perfect and gorgeous I could hardly believe that this was MY horse. So many hopes and dreams of happy rides together. He grew up big and strong and so sweet and gentle. This horse has never been mishandled, pushed or stressed. He lives outside 24/7 and I've always been careful because he has a tendency towards gaining weight easily - just like me... and his mother. Cali. He was backed at three and ridden a handful of times then put back out with his friends to grow up for a year. At 4 he was ridden lightly about 3x per week but we knew he was going to be a big guy - 17+ hands and I was in no rush to get him trained so in that first year we kept his training very simple and straightforward. He happily and easily walked, trotted and cantered in balance, there were few issues. He was a happy, willing and comfortable horse.
At some point it changed. I can't tell you when or how but there has been a gradual but obvious decline to the point he is now... unhappy, unwilling and uncomfortable. I have had the vet out 6 times in the last year. He has had pictures taken of his front feet, no cause for lameness found. The vet still felt there was something wrong with his front legs - possible strain to his DDFT, etc, etc. Nothing concrete or definitive, until now... three weeks ago my vet suggested that we test Merlin for PSSM with a muscle biopsy. The test results are positive. Finally an explanation for the problems and frustrations going back to his mother even. What a relief.
Which brings me to today, my first call was to Linsey McLean. Linsey assures me that PSSM is a disease of management - nutrition and exercise. She is confident that Merlin will go forward and live a productive, happy and sound life. I fell like we are just starting on this journey together and am excited to see my beautiful horse fulfill his potential.
Here, he is as a foal:
Typical Tripod Stance (at the begining of the clinical trial):
Standing in a typical tripod stance, with hind legs spread apart
Video at the top:
Owner reports: “Movement is stiffened and appears sore all over. I took his first video, he was very tired. It was a lot of work for him and hopefully you can see that he just does not have any energy and during the short amount of time he was working he stumbled twice, pretty badly. You may also notice that the more he worked, the more he just HUNG his head down and out. It did not look comfortable or happy. He is such a sweet horse but he's definitely not comfortable.“
“I split screen my computer and watched them side by side. I thought he looked ALOT different/better.” He is continuing to progress into the horse he was meant to be. Time difference is less than 4 weeks.
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