Appaloosa's and uveitis risk

[4horses]

Hi,

A friend of a friend wants me to take their Appaloosa, put some rides on him, and sell him on consignment. Given how prone Appaloosa’s are to uveitis, I’m just concerned this might be an issue if I’m selling the horse? Obviously vet checks by the buyer would be welcome.

Do most appaloosa’s develop uveitis? or go on to develop it? I have not met the horse in person, but I have heard that he rides well and appears to not need too much training.

[Scribbler]

Appaloosas have many wonderful qualities and a devoted fan following. They are still being actively bred. I don’t know if there is a genetic test for uveitis. But there is a market for Appaloosas.

[trubandloki]

I would talk to your vet if you are this concerned.

I am no expert on the percentages, but I can say that I know what feels like lots of appies and only one of them have had any problems with uveitis (that one was actually a POA).

I don’t think there is a breed out there that does not have some problem that people say “oh it is a [breed], does it have [issue]?”

I will add to your worries list. Many appies contain a ton of QH blood. Be sure they are properly test for HYPP too.

[JB]

Uveitis in this context is related to the LP gene so yes, any horse with that turned on is more prone to developing uveitis. It goes with the territory.
Leopard Complex (LP) Linked to Increased Risk for Equine Recurrent Uveitis | Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (ucdavis.edu)

Greys are very prone to melanomas
Breeding Silver horses comes with a risk of MCOAs

But people still buy and breed them

My TB x Percheron developed ERU in one eye and is now blind in that eye. No app genetics there.

[cardinale]

Is the appy snowcap or few spot, i.e. likely homozygous for LP? If so, that would correlate with increased severity of uveitis, per the study JB linked to. And, all LP/LP will develop it. So, you could judge the risk to some degree based on the coat coloration.

Also, I wonder whether appys with colored (brown) sclera are less likely to develop uveitis, or at least a severe form. Appy crosses are more likely to have brown sclera, IME.

[JB]

@cardinale

And, all LP/LP will develop it.

bigger risk yes, guaranteed no
" This study also noted that horses homozygous for the LP variant were at significantly greater risk for ERU than horses with no copies of LP (odds ratio: 19.4) and were more likely to show evidence of severe ocular damage than N/LP horses."

[candyappy]

@4horses

Do most appaloosa’s develop uveitis? or go on to develop it?

Not in my personal experience. I have had 5 Appaloosas so far . All into their senior years and only 1 has Uveitis and hers developed due to allergies and rubbing her eyes. She was 18 when it started.

[Spudsmyguy]

I know two we sold developed uveitis. Both went completely blind. The one we have now, a large foundation gelding is around 23 and has not developed it.