Health
Horses and Heat Stress
If you’ve ever been around horses during the summer when the temperatures are high, you might have noticed a few things, such as changes in behaviour, seeking shade, drinking more water, sweating, more visible veins under the skin, or a higher respiratory rate. All of these changes are the horses’ way of adapting to the heat.
Equine Blood Types
Horses, just like humans and other animal species, have blood types. Blood types are determined by antigen structures on red blood cells and are based on genetic information inherited from one’s parents. You’ve almost certainly heard about the ABO blood group system in humans, which divides our population into four groups – A, B, AB, and O. However, in some animal species, the blood group systems are not as straightforward, and horses are not an exception.
MIM – P8, Px, K1 Variants
MIM (Muscle Integrity Myopathy), previously also known as PSSM2, is a term connected to myopathic episodes in horses. Six different variants have been described in relation to this term.
MIM – P2, P3, P4 Variants
MIM (Muscle Integrity Myopathy), also known as PSSM2 (Polysacharide Storage Myopathy Type 2), is a term connected to myopathic episodes in horses.
Genetic Health Panel Tests
If you’ve ever been around Paint or Quarter Horses, you have probably heard of health panel tests, more specifically, 5-, 6-, or 7-panel tests. A genetic health panel test is an umbrella term for multiple tests targeting several diseases, with the exact number of covered diseases varying between different panels. The respective associations overseeing these breeds may require these panel tests when registering horses for breeding, especially in the case of stallions.
Leopard Complex and Eye Health Issues
The leopard complex is a group of white spotting patterns, including the leopard, few-spot leopard, snowcap blanket, lace blanket, spotted blanket, varnish roan, snowflake, and frosted, speckled, and mottled patterns.
When the Test Results are Negative but the Symptoms are Present
It may have happened to you, your friend, a family member, your dog or your horse. A genetic test was run in the hope of finding a reason behind your or their health problems, but the test results were negative. No questions were answered, and the patient was left undiagnosed. For now.