Exertional Rhabdomyolysis (tying-up)
News/Interview
Tying Up Explained
Dr. Erica McKenzie describes the common causes of exertional rhabdomyolysis in horses.
Article
Exertional Rhabdomyolysis: Not Just Tying-Up Anymore
Researchers have worked tirelessly to better understand the disorder, its causes, and how to best manage it.
Photo by Stephanie Valberg, DVM, PhD
Article
Top Medicine Studies of 2012 (AAEP 2012)
Dr. Stephen Reed recaps studies on endocrinology, neurologic and muscle disorders, foal health, and more.
Photo by Photos.com
Article
Old School Tying Up Treatment
May 14, 2013
Why have vitamin E/selenium injections prior to whatever led to tying-up in the past been abandoned?... Read More
Article
Exertional Rhabdomyolysis: Not Just Tying-Up Anymore
February 12, 2013
Researchers have worked tirelessly to better understand the disorder, its causes, and how to best manage it.... Read More
Article
Top Medicine Studies of 2012 (AAEP 2012)
February 04, 2013
Dr. Stephen Reed recaps studies on endocrinology, neurologic and muscle disorders, foal health, and more.... Read More
Article
Valberg to be Inducted into Equine Research Hall of Fame
September 16, 2012
Valberg will be the first woman inducted into the Equine Research Hall of Fame.... Read More
Article
Identifying and Managing Acute Rhabdomyolysis in Horses
July 25, 2012
Understanding equine acute rhabdomyolysis can help ensure affected horses receive appropriate veterinary care.... Read More
Article
Exertional Muscle Disorders Topic of 2012 Milne Lecture
June 05, 2012
Stephanie Valberg, DVM, PhD, is the first female to deliver the Milne State-of-the-Art Lecture.... Read More
Article
Selenium and Vitamin E to Alleviate Signs of Tying Up
May 20, 2012
Selenium and vitamin E work together to alleviate muscle damage and signs of tying up in horses.... Read More
Article
Tying-Up in Horses: A Review
June 15, 2011
Tying-up, or exertional rhabdomyolysis, is a frustrating problem for horse owners, but can be managed through ... Read More
Article
What's In Your Horse's DNA?
December 01, 2010
Geneticists have created tools and tests that enhance horse breeders' ability to select for healthy foals.... Read More
Article
Neuromuscular Disease Can Lead to Performance Issues
October 24, 2010
Neuromuscular diseases, which affect the function of muscles and the way they interact with the nervous system, can lead to performance issues, said Kelsey A. Hart, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, internal medicine clinician and graduate fellow at the U... Read More
Article
Potential Biomarker for Tying-up Found
June 01, 2010
In an equine study using "proteomic" technology that systematically analyzed the proteins in skeletal muscle biopsies, a research team from The Netherlands identified a form of the protein creatine kinase that could be a marker for ac... Read More
Article
Twelve New Equine Fact Sheets Available From TheHorse.com
May 12, 2010
This week TheHorse.com has launched 12 free, handy Fact Sheets on topics of interest to hands-on horse owners. These are invaluable additions to the more than 30 widely acclaimed Fact Sheets that TheHorse.com launched in 2009...... Read More
Article
Nutrition Can Help Manage Tying-Up in Sport Horses
May 10, 2010
Thanks to advances in identifying specific causes of tying-up, development of diagnostic tests, and improved recognition of the impact of diet and exercise on horses that tie up, affected horses can be successfully managed. Stephanie Valberg, D... Read More
Article
Genetic Diseases in Horses Reviewed for World Equine Vets
October 31, 2009
While genetic diseases exist in a number of horse breeds, many researchers have focused expressly on issues occurring in the Quarter Horse breed. Thanks to their efforts, genetic tests for several disorders specific to this breed are now... Read More
Article
PSSM Genetic Mutation Reported in Some UK Horse Breeds
June 18, 2009
Collaborative efforts between researchers on both sides of the Atlantic have identified that a genetic mutation in enzyme glycogen synthase 1 (GYS1) is an important cause of polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM, a form of... Read More
Article
UK Incidence of Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy Reported
May 21, 2009
Not only is polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) a common and important muscular disorder in various horse breeds in the United States, but according to a recent research report, it is also a common diagnosis in horses in the Unite... Read More
Article
Muscle Disorders in Warmbloods Easily Diagnosed through Biopsy
April 16, 2008
Owners of Warmbloods with debilitating--or sometimes just plain baffling--muscle disorders can get useful and reliable answers about their horses' conditions through a relatively simple muscle biopsy. So say University of Minnesota researchers,... Read More
Article
Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy: Blame It on the Genes
April 11, 2008
A genetic mutation in an enzyme called muscle glycogen synthase might be responsible for polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM)--a debilitating and life-threatening disease in horses characterized by abnormally high glycogen (the storage form of... Read More
Article
Service Pony Recovers from Health Crisis
April 10, 2008
Thanks to the skill and kindness of several Texas veterinarians, a blind woman's assistive guide pony is recuperating from serious illness. Trixie is a nearly 14-year-old Pony of the Americas mare, and she has been Tabitha Darling's service... Read More
Article
2007 Morris Animal Foundation Equine Research Wrap-Up
December 14, 2007
The results of equine research funded by the Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) in 2007 added to scientists' understanding of foal pneumonia, hereditary muscle disorders, laminitis, and pharmacology. <TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5... Read More
Article
New Research on PSSM Prevalence, Heritability in Progress
October 04, 2007
Researchers with the University of Minnesota have identified polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) in 6-12% of overtly healthy Quarter Horses on six farms involved in a new study. They also said the disease could be more common within certain... Read More
Article
Incidence and Management of Exertional Rhabdomyolysis
July 03, 2007
Stephanie Valberg, DVM, PhD, professor of large animal medicine and director of the University of Minnesota's Equine Center, tackled the broad subject of skeletal muscle disease related to exercise at the 2006 AAEP Convention. This has... Read More
Article
Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy Discussion Planned at SmartPak Store
June 14, 2007
Most horse owners are familiar with the term "tying up," which describes the pain and cramping of a horse's muscles with exercise. Veterinarians refer to this condition as exertional rhabdomyolysis, and now recognize a specific type known as... Read More
Article
Muscle Disorders (AAEP 2006)
March 01, 2007
Careful inspection of a horse's muscle mass and symmetry and hands-on palpation educates the examiner about the horse's muscle tone and comfort level. The examiner also evaluates the horse in motion and conducts a full lameness exam.... Read More
Article
Prevalence of PSSM in Quarter Horses
September 14, 2006
Up to 6% of apparently healthy Quarter Horses could have subclinical polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM).... Read More
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Farm Call: Your Questions Answered
Old School Tying Up Treatment
Q. Your article on tying-up left out the old remedy I have used successfully every time: vitamin E/selenium injections prior to whatever led to tying-up episodes in the past. I never had this fail and wonder why it has been abandoned?
Tying-Up Syndrome
Q. I just bought a Thoroughbred filly which was in race training, but retired without running because of recurrent bouts of ‘tying-up.’ She had been turned out for six months before I got her, and never showed any problems while on the farm. What can you tell me about this disease? Tying-up is a syndrome or description of a horse with muscle damage that has many different causes
