KER President Discusses Feeding Horses with Myopathies at AAEP Convention

Exertional myopathies, like recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER), polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM), and myofibrillar myopathy (MFM), are defined by muscle pain and impaired performance during or after exercise. Horses that are diagnosed with myopathies are most often managed by altering the diet and exercise program; however, exact feeding recommendations for these horses vary depending on the exact myopathy.

Kentucky Equine Research Founder and President, Joe D. Pagan, Ph.D., teamed up with a pioneer in the identification and treatment of muscle diseases in horses, Stephanie Valberg, D.V.M., Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM, ACVSMR, Director of the Equine Neuromuscular Diagnostic Laboratory and Mary Anne McPhail Dressage Chair in Equine Sports Medicine at Michigan State University, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences to present a talk on feeding performance horses with myopathies at the recent American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Annual Convention.

In the presentation and accompanying paper, the pair covered feeding recommendations, including nutrient requirements, energy sources, forage and concentrate intake, and nutritional supplements to support each of the myopathies, including:

• sporadic exertional rhabdomyolysis,
• recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis,
• type 1 polysaccharide storage myopathy,
• type 2 polysaccharide storage myopathy,
• and myofibrillar myopathy.

The AAEP Annual Convention was held virtually this year in early December. For several decades, the AAEP Convention has brought together equine veterinarians and other health professionals to learn about the latest advances in research, earn continuing education credits, and network.

Read the full paper here.