Equine ATYPICAL MYOPATHY (Myopathie Atypique in French) is a frequently fatal condition affecting grazing horses in autumn and/or spring. The clinical signs of this myopathy seem to appear after typical climatic conditions with global warming also being blamed for the increase in cases recently.

At the beginning of December there were 300 reported cases in Europe, over 80 of these being within France and 27 in the UK.

Clinical signs of Atypical Myopathy (in order of frequency):

– Weakness
– Horse found laying on the grass (or dead)
– Difficulty to get up
– Dark coloured urine
– Stiffness
– Red or purple mucus membranes
– Depressed
– Muscle tremors
– Difficulty to stay standing
– Difficulty or inability to walk
– Increased heart rate
– Difficulty to breath
– Sweating
– Hypothermia
– Colic
– Horse that still wants to eat

Horses most at risk are young horses less than 3 years old (especially horses of 18 months) and older horses. Horses in poor bodily condition,unvaccinated and unwormed horses, and horses not in work are also more at risk.

There is an excellent website here on Atypical Myopathy (which is written in French and English), that also gives some preventative advice.

Read a recent French article on the disease here

British Equine Veterinary Association  alert

News report by Rossdales & Partners Vets