Impressive was born in 1969, and in short order he passed the dominant HYPP gene on to thousands within his breed, a domino effect of disease rushed along by artificial insemination The disease stands out because its spread was hastened and, in effect, promoted by breeders.
Did Impressive have HYPP?
Although Impressive was not known to have exhibited any symptoms of the disease himself, gradually it became evident that many horses tracing to Impressive were afflicted with the painful, alarming, and often fatal disease hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP).
Do all Impressive horses have HYPP?
Not all horses of that line had HYPP , but all horses with HYPP were descended from Impressive himself. In 1994, a
genetic test
that utilized DNA from hair or blood, was perfected, this determined whether a horse had HYPP or not.
What is HYPP in quarter horses?
HYPP is a genetic disease noted by mild to severe episodes of
muscle spasms
and trembling HYPP links back to the Quarter Horse sire Impressive. Breeders should refrain from using any HYPP horses for breeding. Lowering
diet potassium levels
and providing regular exercise can help manage HYPP in affected horses.
Can you ride a horse with HYPP?
Should an HYPP-positive horse be ridden? According to Dr. Spier’s studies, the chance of a paralysis episode occurring while the horse is being ridden is unlikely However, muscle spasms are unpredictable and can occur with only slight symptoms.
Is HYPP painful for horses?
During an attack, horses with HYPP are conscious, aware of their surroundings, and do not appear to be in pain Environmental factors including stress, dietary changes, fasting, general anesthesia, illness and changes in exercise can cause attacks of muscle weakness in affected horses.
What do you feed a horse with HYPP?
Bermuda grass, prairie grass, and timothy are suitable forage choices for horses diagnosed with HYPP. Soaking hay might leach some of the potassium from hay and constitutes an added layer of safety.
Why are some quarter horses so muscular?
These horses are obese, tend toward having very straight (post) legs and fetlocks, and often carry the gene for Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP), an inherited disease of the muscle which is caused by a genetic defect.
How much does HYPP testing cost?
HYPP can be treated through diet and medication in most cases. AQHA Testing Kits can be ordered for $35.
What can you not feed a horse with HYPP?
Concentrates. Most commercially prepared sweet and pelleted feeds are a no-no for HYPP-positive horses because they contain molasses. According to Nutrient Requirements of Horses, molasses often possesses as much as 6% potassium.
What is the difference between HYPP and PSSM?
Type 1 PSSM is a common cause for tie-up signs in Quarter Horses, Paints, Appaloosas, and warmbloods. PSSM can often be managed with diet and exercise changes but there is no cure or medication used to treat it. HYPP is an inherited muscle disease causing an abnormality in how muscle cells manage electrolytes.
How do you manage HYPP in horses?
Management tips: HYPP horse should be maintained on a low-potassium diet and should be turned out as much as possible If turn out is limited then they should be put on a program of regular light exercise. Regular exercise helps prevent attacks.
What disease did Impressive horses have?
Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP, HyperKPP) is a genetic disorder that occurs in horses. It is also known as Impressive syndrome, after an index case in a horse named Impressive.
What is the 5 panel test for horses?
The Five-Panel Genetic Test These include hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP),
polysaccharide storage myopathy
(PSSM), glycogen branching enzyme disease (GBED), hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA), and malignant hyperthermia (MH).
What causes high potassium in horses?
At a greater risk of hyperkalemia are horses with a history of hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP), compromised kidney function, or massive cellular destruction, such as after trauma, burns, or a severe episode of tying-up.
How tall was Smart Little Lena?
Smart Little Lena was a dark sorrel stallion with a blazed face and white socks on both hind feet. He was a small horse, standing only 13.3 hands (55 inches, 140 cm).
How do I know if my horse has EPM?
Owners frequently notice obscure lameness, stumbling and incoordination If the brain stem is involved, usually a head tilt is present. Clinical signs may include: Ataxia (incoordination) and weakness: Generally centered in the rear limbs, symptoms worsen when the head is elevated, or the horse moves up or down slopes.
Can a horse with Shivers be ridden?
Treatment and prognosis. There is currently no known effective treatment, although additional dietary vitamin E and selenium is often added following diagnosis. In the early stages of disease, horses with shivers are commonly used as riding and driving animals However, the disease is often slowly progressive.
Why are
halter horses
so muscular?
Besides genetics, halter horses are fed diets designed for muscle mass growth They typically feed a commercial feed with a high protein percentage combined with alfalfa hay and a hefty supply of muscle-building nutrients.
Can a horse have Down syndrome?
Affected horses appear normal , she said. Autosomal trisomy—The last chromosomal abnormality Lear described was autosomal trisomy, a condition similar to Down syndrome in humans in which there are three copies of a particular chromosome, instead of the normal two.
Which of the following diseases primarily affects quarter horses Draft horses and Warmbloods?
Polysaccharide storage myopathy is a muscle disease that occurs primarily in horses with Quarter Horse bloodlines such as Quarter Horses, Paint Horses and Appaloosas. Polysaccharide storage myopathy also occurs in other breeds including Drafts, Draft crossbreeds, and Warmbloods.
How much potassium is too much horse?
Research studies suggest HYPP horses should be fed with no more than 1.5% potassium of the total diet and individual meals should not exceed 33 grams of potassium.
How much potassium should a horse have daily?
The recommended potassium intake for maintenance in adult horses is 0.05 g/kg body weight Most roughages contain >1% potassium, and a ration containing ≥50% roughage provides more than sufficient potassium for maintenance animals.
What hay is lowest in potassium?
Oat hay and grass hay are the lowest in potassium.
How do HYPP horses gain weight?
One trick to encourage horses to eat more and therefore gain weight is to feed them multiple small meals throughout the day This works especially well for horses with HYPP, because no one meal should exceed 33grams of potassium (the entire diet should contain between 0.6 – 1.5% total potassium).
Is beet pulp high in potassium?
Beet pulp is also good for horses that can’t chew their food properly or need to avoid dusty feeds because they have a respiratory issues. It’s also remarkably low in potassium , so it’s good for horses with a restricted potassium intake in their diet.
How do you judge a horse?
There are five main criteria to evaluate when examining a horse’s conformation: balance, structural correctness, way of going, muscling, and breed/sex character (also known as type). Balance is arguably the most critical aspect to evaluate when examining the horse.
What does halter trained mean?
Young horses or foals are often halter broke. This means they are trained to be accustomed to wearing a halter and will walk obediently on a lead rope beside the handler.
Does AQHA require 5 panel?
The AQHA will require a five panel test for all breeding stallions for 2015 The panel includes testing for GBED (glycogen branching enzyme deficiency), HERDA (hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia), HYPP (hyperkalemic periodic paralysis), MH (malignant hyperthermia) and PSSM (polysaccharide storage myopathy).
Are horse DNA tests accurate?
The test is reasonably good but there is no way to determine how accurate it is If a purebred horse is tested it will almost always be assigned to the correct breed.
What causes low potassium in horses?
Limited forage intake, diets high in grain but low in forage, or substantial sweat losses could contribute to a potassium deficiency.
References
https://www.tsln.com/news/hypp-and-the-impressive-line-of-american-quarter-horses-the-facts/
https://www.horse-genetics.com/Impressive.html
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2015/07/14/spotlight-quarter-horse-disease-impressive/
https://www.allbreedpedigree.com/impressive6