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Horse Health

Health Committee

Mission

To support and enhance the general health and longevity of the Friesian horse

Action Plan

The Health committee will be addressing the following issues along with others that arise:

  • PSSM research.
  • Megasophagus
  • Hydrocephalus

The Heatlh committee would request that any member of FHANA who has a horse that has been tested positive for any of these diseases to please send DNA samples to the FHANA office

4037 Iron Works Parkway, Suite 160

Lexington, KY

40511

These samples will be stored, and held confidentially in the FHANA office.  Once an appropriate amount of samples has been accumulate (20) we will then work with the University of Kentucky, and the Gluck Equine Research Laboratory and Dr. Kathryn Graves to have these samples tested. 

This committee is in the initial stages of planning and development and appreciates any input the membership can offer regarding any of these health related issues.

PSSM Education

When is a horse a PSSM Suspect?

Symptoms of PSSM:

  • “ Lazy”
  • Reluctance to move
  • Muscle stiffness
  • Shifting lameness
  • Muscle pain & cramping (hind quarters)
  • Tense up in abdomen
  • Muscle tremors (flank)
  • Reluctant to move (stop)
  • Camped out stance
  • Sweating(excessive)
  • Quick, shallow breathing
  • Increased heart rate
  • Discolored urine(brown)
  • Recumbent (down)
  • Kidney failure

If after a thorough veterinary examination, PSSM cannot be excluded, have a muscle biopsy performed (from hindquarter) by your veterinarian and have, he/ she submit the biopsy sample for diagnostic evaluation to:

Dr Stephanie Valberg, DVM PhD, University of Minnesota, Minnesota
Or
Br Beth Valentine, DVM, PhD, Oregon State University, Oregon

If the muscle biopsy is positive on PSSM collect hair sample:

  • Minimum 30 hairs with roots
  • Pull hair from the mane base(withers) or tail base( tail implant)
  • Hair sample has to be dry ( wet hair = rot and fungus)

Send hair sample, a copy of registration papers, and a copy of positive PSSM biopsy results to:

Drs. Beth A. Valentine and Stephanie Valberg are fore-runners in the symptomatology, management, and research of PSSM affected horses.

They have helped many horse owners to manage their PSSM positive horses with low carbohydrate and high fat diets.

Drs Beth A, Valentine & Stephanie Valberg are the pillars where your PSSM committee builds on to help the Friesian horse owners with affected Friesian horses and our Friesian horse breed as a whole.

Dr. Beth Valentine, DVM, PhD –www.ruralheritage.com
Dr Stephanie Valberg, DVM, PhD – www.cvm.umn.edu/umec/home.html

Health Committee

FHANA Board Memeber - Willem Bron
Representative - Laurie Kasperek

Representative – Jeannine Everhart
Representative – Anneke Vanden Ijssel
Representative - Klaas Wiersma 

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