Pasture myopathy
As Weidemyopathie or - in contrast to other myopathies - Atypical Weidemyopathie a metabolic disorder is called the horse, which is observed mainly in spring and autumn and runs usually fatal. Usually otherwise healthy animals that are kept on overused and rather neglected pastures are affected.
root cause
After lengthy speculations about the cause, the non-proteinogenic amino acid hypoglycine from seeds and seedlings of the sycamore maple was identified as the trigger in 2012 . This leads to inhibition of enzymes of fat metabolism and thus to a collapse of the energy supply to the muscles, including the heart musculature and respiratory muscles .
Therapy and prevention
Since symptomatic therapy is seldom and only effective in the early stages, care should be taken to ensure that horses do not come into contact with the toxins from maple seeds. We recommend:
- Adequate forage supply, no keeping on lawns that have been recently grazed in the vicinity of maple trees, proper pasture maintenance
- a constant supply of fresh water, as toxin absorption through water is believed to be possible.