White Muscle Disease

Disease/Disorder: White Muscle Disease.





Common Name: White Muscle Disease.





Age of onset: early age.



Duration: stays with the animal.



Males/Females/Equal: in both male and female.



Cause: It is caused by a deficiency of selenium and or vitamin E. Generally, it is not known which. Selenium deficiency is associated with selenium deficient soils and the inadequate uptake of selenium by forages grown on these soils.

Symptoms: develop under extensive or intensive management systems. Skeletal muscles are affected, symptoms vary from mild stiffness to obvious pain upon walking, to an inability to stand.

Prognosis: worsens without treatment, stays with you.

Treatment: Treating the heart form of White Muscle Disease is usually ineffective and those that survive often do not thrive because of the residual cardiac damage. The muscle form of the disease can be successfuly treated with supplemental selenium and or vitamin E.