What Every Gypsy Owner Should Know
It is true the Gypsy Horse is typically a very hardy and healthy horse but there are some common aliments and medical conditions that can be commonly found within the breed. Education and prevention is they key for health.
Mallenders-Sallenders / Hyperkeratosis
Mallenders and Sallenders is an accumulation of thickened, crusted scale and scabs on the front and hind legs of horses. Mallanders occurs behind the knees on the front leg while Sallanders occurs in front of the hock on the hind legs. The problem occurs most commonly in draft or heavy breeds and horses with feather and is caused by excessive keratin production. Keratin is a fibrous protein forming the main structural constituent of hair, feathers, hoofs, claws, horns, etc. Increased keratin is the reason this breed has such beautiful feather and is also the reason some develop Mallanders/Sallanders. Both disorders cause discomfort for your horse and can lead to lameness. Excess keratin build up is only the beginning of the issue. If lesions are allowed to stay on for long periods a secondary bacterial and fungal infection may occur. There is no cure for the ailment but it can be managed easily with specialized products.
Scratches (Pastern Dermatitis)
Scratches, a condition often called Dew Poisoning, Greasy Heel, Mud Fever, Foot Rot, Rain Rot, Mud Foot and Pastern Dermatitis. Scratches may first appear as reddish irritations usually around the pastern area or along the back of tendons behind the knee. Because of the Gypsies feathering, it may be difficult to see in this stage. In a more advanced stage they will form crusty scabs over these irritations. These scabs will wander along the horses legs can and simultaneously work their way into the deeper tissue. If not treated, these lesions may bleed and increase their surface area which could lead to severe swelling of the limbs and potential lameness.
Mite infestations can occur in one or in all four legs and mites can cause the infection to spread.
Chronic Progressive Lymphedema (CPL)
CPL is a severe condition characterized by progressive swelling and thickening of the skin on the lower legs of Draft Breeds with feathering.
For more information and treatment:
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/elephantitis/about.html
Mallenders and Sallenders is an accumulation of thickened, crusted scale and scabs on the front and hind legs of horses. Mallanders occurs behind the knees on the front leg while Sallanders occurs in front of the hock on the hind legs. The problem occurs most commonly in draft or heavy breeds and horses with feather and is caused by excessive keratin production. Keratin is a fibrous protein forming the main structural constituent of hair, feathers, hoofs, claws, horns, etc. Increased keratin is the reason this breed has such beautiful feather and is also the reason some develop Mallanders/Sallanders. Both disorders cause discomfort for your horse and can lead to lameness. Excess keratin build up is only the beginning of the issue. If lesions are allowed to stay on for long periods a secondary bacterial and fungal infection may occur. There is no cure for the ailment but it can be managed easily with specialized products.
Scratches (Pastern Dermatitis)
Scratches, a condition often called Dew Poisoning, Greasy Heel, Mud Fever, Foot Rot, Rain Rot, Mud Foot and Pastern Dermatitis. Scratches may first appear as reddish irritations usually around the pastern area or along the back of tendons behind the knee. Because of the Gypsies feathering, it may be difficult to see in this stage. In a more advanced stage they will form crusty scabs over these irritations. These scabs will wander along the horses legs can and simultaneously work their way into the deeper tissue. If not treated, these lesions may bleed and increase their surface area which could lead to severe swelling of the limbs and potential lameness.
Mite infestations can occur in one or in all four legs and mites can cause the infection to spread.
Chronic Progressive Lymphedema (CPL)
CPL is a severe condition characterized by progressive swelling and thickening of the skin on the lower legs of Draft Breeds with feathering.
For more information and treatment:
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/elephantitis/about.html
If you are purchasing a Gypsy Horse, ask questions about the horse's health history and family history. Have your veterinarian thoroughly examine the horse's legs and under the feathers. If there are any signs of a problem, have your veterinarian take a biopsy sample so that you may understand what the issue is and are well aware of the potential severity of the problem.
Upward Fixation of the Patella (UFP)
What is UFP? The patella is the small, bony plate (the kneecap) that protects the knee joint in people, where the femur and tibia meet. This joint is known as the stifle in horses. A unique hooking of the patellar ligaments over a notch on the femur allows the horse to lock its hind legs in the standing position. Unfortunately, if one of these ligaments remains in the hooked position, the horse is unable to bend its hind legs and it can be quite painful in it's effort to release it. This condition is known as Upward Fixation of the Patella (also commonly described as locking or sticking stifles) and can range from a slight delay in a leg's forward motion to completely locking that freezes a leg for long periods of time.
While the causes are not well understood, there are some factors that horses with this condition share, such as poor muscle conditioning, excessively straight hind leg conformation or genetic conformation factors, stifle trauma, or debilitation. A specific conditioning program is often recommended to strengthen and tone the surrounding muscles and corrective shoeing may also help.
Unfortunately, there are no guarantees that horses with more severe cases will improve with conservative methods so they may require injections or surgery. However, not only are these treatments more aggressive in nature, they do not always correct the condition, so they should only be used as a last resort.
For more information on UFP including video footage of what this condition looks like, visit:
http://www.atlantaequine.com/pages/client_lib_UpPatellerFix.html
While the causes are not well understood, there are some factors that horses with this condition share, such as poor muscle conditioning, excessively straight hind leg conformation or genetic conformation factors, stifle trauma, or debilitation. A specific conditioning program is often recommended to strengthen and tone the surrounding muscles and corrective shoeing may also help.
Unfortunately, there are no guarantees that horses with more severe cases will improve with conservative methods so they may require injections or surgery. However, not only are these treatments more aggressive in nature, they do not always correct the condition, so they should only be used as a last resort.
For more information on UFP including video footage of what this condition looks like, visit:
http://www.atlantaequine.com/pages/client_lib_UpPatellerFix.html
I strongly encourage anyone who is considering to purchase a Gypsy to ask the breeder if UFP has been known in the breed line. It is important to do your history homework as not all Gypsy breeders will offer this information or share the known history of it within their breed lines. Stick with honest and ethical breeders who have success in their breeding program and have a referral list of happy customers that they are willing to share with you. Once you have decided to move forward with the purchase process of your desired Gypsy, be sure to ask your veterinarian to thoroughly test the stability of the stifle joints during your pre-purchase exam.
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Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM1) In Gypsy Horses
While there are only a few actual documented cases of PSSM 1 existing, it does exist. Animal Genetics, Inc, has taken the lead in researching this mutation in Gypsy horses and present their preliminary results below. What this means is, yes, the disease does exist in a very small number of Gypsy horses, and all affected Gypsies have been able to be managed with proper diet and exercise. Only horses with TWO COPIES of the mutation have displayed symptoms. Horses with ONE COPY of the mutation are leading normal, healthy lives. There are several very nice, quality Gypsy Horses in the US carrying one copy of the mutation.
For more information:
http://www.horsetesting.com/Equine/Genetic_Disease/PSSM.asp
http://www.cvm.umn.edu/umec/lab/Advances_in_PSSM/home.html
Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM1) In Gypsy Horses
While there are only a few actual documented cases of PSSM 1 existing, it does exist. Animal Genetics, Inc, has taken the lead in researching this mutation in Gypsy horses and present their preliminary results below. What this means is, yes, the disease does exist in a very small number of Gypsy horses, and all affected Gypsies have been able to be managed with proper diet and exercise. Only horses with TWO COPIES of the mutation have displayed symptoms. Horses with ONE COPY of the mutation are leading normal, healthy lives. There are several very nice, quality Gypsy Horses in the US carrying one copy of the mutation.
For more information:
http://www.horsetesting.com/Equine/Genetic_Disease/PSSM.asp
http://www.cvm.umn.edu/umec/lab/Advances_in_PSSM/home.html
When inquiring about purchasing a Gypsy Horse from a breeder, ask if the horse has been tested for PSSM. You may consider seeking breeders who have only bred carrier horses with horses that have tested negative for the mutation. To eliminate horse that may be symptomatic, consider only horses with one copy of the gene not two.