Tying-up in horses is also called azoturia, rhabdomyolysis, rhabdomyelosis, monday morning disease, paralytic myoglobinuria, myositis, setfast, cramps, equine exertional rhabdomyolosis (EER), EERS, ERS, metabolic myopathies, market day disease, snow disease, frost disease, polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM or EPSM) and probably quite a few other names.
Tying up or azoturia is a muscle metabolism problem. The muscles over the loins and the quarters harden, with cramps and stiffness. The stride becomes shorter, the horse may stagger behind and go lame. The horse may refuse to work. The horse may collapse if work is continued. The temperature is usually raised, and there may be sweating. In severe cases the myoglobin released from the damaged muscles turns the urine dark red or brown.
Causes of Tying-Up or Azoturia
Tying up or azoturia may develop very quickly in a number of circumstances.
A horse in regular hard work is given a rest day without having the working diet reduced. This is the origin of the description "Monday morning disease" or "Market day disease".
A fit horse which has been fully trained for a race or other event may pull up with azoturia as a result of the stress of travel or of unaccustomed noise or other distractions.
Nervous horses, particularly fillies, may start tying up as a result of stress, also mares in heat (estrus).
Horses in events requiring exceptional athletic exertion or endurance may tie-up when their metabolism is not correctly balanced.
Sudden temperature change to warmer or colder, or having a soaking wet coat, can easily bring on azoturia.
Any day-to-day changes in diet which have not been gradually introduced are a common reason for tying up.
Irregular and stop-start work and exercise, particularly asking for maximum performance without the necessary preparation, will cause a horse to tie-up.
Horses need to be warmed up before being asked for exertion, and allowed to cool down afterwards.
Why Horses Tie-Up
The many reasons for tying-up or azoturia all have something in common. The normal homeostatic balance of the horse metabolic system is subjected to unexpected change. This may be a change of exercise or work routine, of temperature, of diet, of stress, or, in mares in heat, a hormonal change. The horse cellular system suddenly does not know what is going to happen next and so activates a simple protective measure - it conserves, or holds on to, electrolytes.
Electrolytes are essential for the life of the cells, so this is an appropriate action for them. But transmission of electrolytes throughout the body of the horse is also essential for the neuronal control of the muscles and the digestive system. In tying-up, the cells have taken priority and the horse is in a poor state of improperly functioning muscles and digestion.
Tying-up or azoturia may be Sporadic, that is occasional and temporary, Recurrent, that is occuring often but clearing up, or may become Chronic, making the horse useless for further work. All grades of tying-up or azoturia introduce uncertainty about the performance of the horse in any competitive sport.
Treatment of Tying-Up or Azoturia
Treatment is very simple. A regular ten day course of Equiwinner at the start of the season will set the cellular balance of the horse correctly to be able to withstand the normal rigors of competitive work. Whenever tying-up or azoturia is suspected, if possible do not move the horse but place an Equiwinner patch on the horse as soon as possible. The tying-up will cease in a short time and the Equiwinner should be continued to complete the ten days course to help prevent a further attack.
The Equiwinner patch is a unique patented smart cell signaling device which will unlock the normal transmission of electrolytes throughout the body of the horse, solving the problem of tying-up. "I usually start to see the improvements in only three days." says standardbred trainer Leroy Copeland.
Read what other race horse trainers are saying about Equiwinner here.
Nutrition can either help maintain proper electrolyte balance or it can completely unbalance electrolytes. For more information on nutrition, click here.
Nothing from the Equiwinner patch goes into the body of the horse, so that Equiwinner can be used in any horse sport. The beneficial effect is gained only by smart cell signaling. Equiwinner patches are supplied in a robust airtight box and so can be kept ready for use whenever required.
All horses should have a balanced diet appropriate to the amount of work required of them, but tying-up or azoturia cannot be corrected by feeding electrolyte or other supplements, as a normally fit horse is not deficient in these nutrients. In tying-up or azoturia the electrolytes are over conserved or locked up. They need to be released to do the job of nerve transmission and all other physiological processes, and Equiwinner is the only current method to do this simply and without difficulty.
Equiwinner comes with a full money back guarantee and will never test positive.
Please note that diagnosis of the condition of tying-up or azoturia may be difficult and can be confused with other conditions which have similar symptoms. Always call a veterinarian or other professional to get a correct diagnosis.
