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Discussion on Shivers vs EPSM
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New Member:
Mickey01
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 20, 2006 - 4:36 pm:
I recently had a muscle biopsy on my Belgian mare to confirm or eliminate EPSM -- University of Minnesota. The report eliminated EPSM, but diagnosed Shivers. I thought that shivers was the lay-term for EPSM. However, my vet said that EPSM is musculature and Shivers is neurological. He also said that diet doesn't affect Shivers. Now I'm totally confused... is there a difference? If yes, what is the treatment, if any, for Shivers?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Jul 21, 2006 - 9:51 am:
You got me Mickey, shivers is a particular manifestation of a constellation of signs do to EPSM, for more on this see, Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Muscle & Tendon Diseases » Tying Up, Rhabdomyolysis, and Shivers (EPSM).
DrO
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New Member:
kathrynr
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Posted on Thursday, Nov 13, 2008 - 8:38 am:
Dr O
My 9 yr old gelding was recently diagnosed with Shivers and I am confused even after reading a lot of the info here about whether it is a symptom of EPSM/PSSM or a separate issue. The diagnosis was made from observation and my vet recommended 24/7 turnout, removal of sugars from his diet and the addition of oils along with regular exercise as you do here. I have seen little improvement,in fact his energy level has decreased and I notice he is very sensitive to grooming and becoming a very easy keeper -- which has caused me to cut down on his oil. He has the usual hind leg tremors but in my 4 yrs of ownership has not tied up.
My long winded question is would having a muscle biopsy further help diagnose this and if so does it matter in the "treatment" he is recei}ving in the end}?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Nov 14, 2008 - 7:58 am:
Hello Kathryn,
It is easy to see why you would be confused. When this post was made 2 years ago it was commonly thought that shivers was a type of EPSM and still some symptoms are similar so they are at times discussed together. The university was a bit ahead of me here as since that time blood chemistry tests and histopathology done on a number of shivers cases makes this much less likely. If there is lack of certainty as to what is causing your horses problems, yes biopsy may help. We have a new article on just shivers, for more see Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Upper Rear Limb » Shivers.
DrO
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