What are the Shire Horse Health Problems?

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• animalhealthscience Posted : 10/16/2010 12:46:30 PM The shire horse health problems may be suffering from hind limb spasms and difficulties in raising the hind legs. Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy is a serious condition, which is seen in some horses belonging to this breed. LIKE 8 REPLIES 1693 VIEWS LAST POST JUNGLE_CAT Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• hunterseat Posted : 10/17/2010 2:06:23 AM Do you have Shires?  what part of the country are you in?  I wasn't familiar with their problems but thanks for the info!! LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• danastark Posted : 10/17/2010 3:32:44 PM This condition can be corrected through feeding the draft horse properly.  I think this runs in all drafts.  They need low starch, high fat diets, no alfalfa. LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• 2manyhorses Posted : 10/17/2010 4:25:35 PM &nbspSSM is not unique to just Shires.  It is seen in all drafts as well as quarter horses, Morgans and crossbreds.  Hindend issues could also be stringhalt or shivers.  PSSM (more commonly referred to as EPSM in drafts) afflicted horses will also display a lack of energy, muscle wasting and weightloss.   A muscle biopsy is needed to confirm the condition. LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• jungle_cat Posted : 10/17/2010 6:15:01 PM danastark - where did you hear no alfalfa?  Alfalfa is not high starch but high protein - something else an EPSM/PSSM horse needs and thus usually recommended for this.  Alfalfa pellets with the addition of corn oil and removal of all grain from the diet is what I've read in most articles and was also in my vet's article he had on it.  I was reading up on it since we have a draft cross and it can also run in haflingers.  LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• danastark Posted : 10/18/2010 12:00:45 AM I've always heard it is too high in protein and calories in general for drafts.  I have a draft cross too and stick to grass hay, low starch, high fat pellet supplements, added oil and so far so good   Funny how you'll hear the opposite thing for the same condition, huh? LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• jungle_cat Posted : 10/18/2010 12:24:57 AM Here is what Beth Valentine DVM at Cornell University says: http://www.draftresource.com/EPSM/Draft_EPSM_Report.html "This diet aims to provide at least 20-25% of total daily calories from fat. As stated above, there are many ways to decrease the carbohydrates and increase the fat in the horses diet. Good quality hay and pasture are still vitally important, it is only the grain that is being changed. The simplest diet consists of replacing grain with alfalfa pellets with added vegetable oil. For a 1000 lb horse, this diet consists of approximately 5 lbs of alfalfa pellets with 2 cups of oil per day." LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• rusticfurnitureoutlet Posted : 2/13/2012 8:31:26 PM Dear all!! the AQHA has just released a new panel test for all genetic diseases found in QH:&nbsphttp://www.aqha.com/News/News-Articles/02082012-AQHA-Animal-Welfare-Commission-Meeting.aspx [blockquote][blockquote][blockquote][blockquote]I have sadly just put down a filly last week purchased at the legacy sale in 2010 with PSSM. Her name was Revolution Dunit. I am extremely upset and needless to say hurt as my filly was in pain because the breeders (perhaps out of no fault of their own) breed 2 horses which gave a horse who was a carrier of PSSM. We have right now, the tools to make sure we do not RISK even passing these genes on... And why even play russia roulette??? That I got the bad end of the stick because people want to make money... I cried for nights on end because it was about the money... I held my horse as she was put down... Why why why? Because humans want those famous horses as you mention below at the expense of the health of the horse. I cannot wrap my head around it at this point. [/blockquote][blockquote] [/blockquote][blockquote]Anyways... i hope everyone can do their part and not breed horses with issues!!![/blockquote][blockquote] [/blockquote][blockquote][font="calibri, verdana, helvetica, arial"] [/font][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote] LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• laurenjane Posted : 2/15/2012 3:11:13 PM This is such a good post that I've been looking for..I need to learn some good advice. LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login