Epidemiologic analysis of factors influencing exertional rhabdomyolysis in Thoroughbreds.
OBJECTIVE
To determine incidence, effect on performance, and management practices associated with exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER) in Thoroughbreds.


METHODS
Medical records for 984 Thoroughbreds and a survey of trainers of horses with and without ER.


METHODS
Medical records for 984 Thoroughbreds stabled at a midwestern racetrack were examined to determine the incidence of ER during the 1995 racing season. A retrospective questionnaire was administered to trainers to determine management practices associated with ER in 59 Thoroughbreds with ER and 47 control Thoroughbreds in training. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine management factors associated with ER.


RESULTS
ER affected 48 of 984 (4.9%) Thoroughbreds. Two-year-old females were most frequently affected, and 36 of 96 (37.5%) trainers had > or = 1 horse with ER. Horses with ER were more likely not to race during the racing season, compared with control horses. For horses that raced, differences were not found with respect to racing performance between ER and control horses. Exertional rhabdomyolysis developed frequently in susceptible horses that had > or = 1 day of rest prior to exercise and that galloped during exercise. Horses with ER were commonly fed > 4.5 kg of grain daily. Nervous and extremely nervous horses were 5.4 times more likely, and horses with some form of lameness were 4.2 times more likely, to have ER.


CONCLUSIONS
Exertional rhabdomyolysis is common in Thoroughbreds, and ER can be affected by temperament, sex, age, diet, exercise routines, and lameness. Management that minimizes excitability, particularly when tailored to each horse, may be most effective for controlling ER.
MacLeay
J M
JM
Department of Clinical and Population Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul 55108, USA.
Sorum
S A
SA
Valberg
S J
SJ
Marsh
W E
WE
Sorum
M D
MD
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006736:Horses; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000662:veterinary*; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires