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THPSSM is something that is being mentioned far more regularly, but what exactly is it?
Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy, or PSSM 1, is a sugar storage disorder that affects the process by which the horse converts Glucose (sugar) to Glycogen (sugar in its stored form within muscle tissue).
Polysaccharides are typically long, highly branched chains of molecules, with glycogen being one of the four primary types of polysaccharide. However, horses affected by PSSM1 have a mutation in their GYS1 gene, which causes excess glycogen to be stored, and in a less branched form. This less branched form causes the molecule to becoming resistant to the enzyme (amylase) that is designed to break it down to use for energy production.
The result of this is a significant energy deficiency within the muscle, and damage to the muscle tissue itself…a bit like when you’ve over done it on a walk or at the gym, and exceeded the level of exercise that you’re fit for - if you imagine feeling like that all the time, it gives an idea of what life is like for an unmanaged PSSM horse.
The symptoms of this condition can be varied, but can include;
✨A lack of energy, which can often be interspersed with spooky or explosive behaviour (a pain response to deep tissue spasms/tension)
✨Tying Up
✨Visible muscle spasms/tremors
✨Muscle wastage
✨Muscle tension
✨Unusual foot placement, such as crossing hindlimbs
✨Struggling in canter
I have put together a series on the management of this condition, which I’m really excited to share with you, but to share a few initial steps:
🎯A low sugar & starch diet is the first step toward managing horses with this condition, as the more glucose present in the bloodstream, the greater chance of abnormally formed glycogen in the muscles.
🎯Movement is equally important, as this encourages the body to use consumed glucose straight away, rather than storing it for later and triggering that initial step towards becoming symptomatic.
Ours is a raw journey of managing this condition, the ups and downs, sharing tips along the way to show that with the right approach, PSSM doesn’t mean giving up on your goals 💕
Feel free to share if you’ve found this useful!
@thecobchronicles
