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dsld awareness

Posted by susan on 4/16/2005, 9:09 am
209.247.222.44

Is there unexplained lameness and/or illness in a horse or mule?

Could it be DSLD aka Connective Tissue Disorder?

As of this date (April 2, 2005) research is being conducted at the University of Georgia and the University of Kentucky studying a long known, but poorly understood condition currently known as Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis.

Many diverse breeds of horses are afflicted with DSLD/ESAD. DSLD is a chronic severely debilitating syndrome that affects the collagen in equine tendons and ligaments, primarily the collagen in the suspensory ligaments. DSLD is an incurable disease, causing the eventual humane euthanasia of the vast majority of afflicted animals. Much research is needed if we hope to eradicate this disease from our beloved equine companions.

In addition...there is another problem with DSLD....as we know it. Everyone is thinking of the swelled fetlocks and the dropped pasterns. Well, it just so happens that 50% of the horses don't drop, they contract upward. They start to look like a club foot and a very extreme straight leg. This is dsld, too, in another form. This is mentioned in Jay Mero's paper and is posted on the web at
http://www.dsld.org/ along with flex test diagnostic protocols, photos, and ultrasound images.
If your horse is lame, bilaterally...get an ultrasound, it could be DSLD
This problem is throughout the connective tissue of the entire horse, often preceded by immune/metabolic/allergy problems, false colic, heat & swelling in the lower legs

For more symptoms and suggestions go to http://community.webtv.net/Peruvians/dsld

For a civilized discussion group go to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSLD-equine/

Donations to DSLD research-
Checks made out to University of Kentucky,
*must make notation on check:
"Dr.Cothran research in Genetics and Health of Horse"
send to-
University of Kentucky
Dept. Veterinary Science
Dr. Cothran- DSLD research
102 Animal Pathology Bldg.
Lexington, KY 40546-0076

Donations to U of GA research make check out to:
University of Georgia,
*notation on check
"Donation, Dr. Halper DSLD research".
Send to:
University of Georgia,
Dr. Halper,
142 Vet Med 1,
Athens, GA 30602-7388

I hope that you will take time to learn more about this disease. We are eagerly awaiting a paper publishing the preliminary results of the University of Georgia’s study in the summer of 2005.

You can help. At the time this was written in the spring of 2005, the University of Kentucky is still collecting blood samples of families of horses containing both affected and non affected individuals complete with pedigrees for their study.