Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM)

What is it?

Polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) is a muscle disorder that is more common in Quarter Horses, warmbloods, and draft breeds. It is characterized by an abnormal accumulation of glycogen in muscle resulting from a hypersensitivity of the muscle to insulin.

How can KERx help?

Horses diagnosed with PSSM also benefit from low-starch feeds. Research at the University of Minnesota has shown that serum creatine kinase (CK) levels, which are indicative of tying-up, were reduced when Quarter Horses suffering from PSSM were fed a low-starch feed (RE•LEVE, below). Since these horses have lower energy requirements than horses with another common form of tying-up (recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis, RER), the concentration of other nutrients needs to be greater than in feeds designed for RER horses.

RE•LEVE Concentrate was specifically formulated for horses requiring low-starch, high-fat diets. RE•LEVE Concentrate is designed with greater nutrient density to ensure that horses with low to moderate energy needs receive optimal amounts of nutrients.