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| EPM?; What is it and what can happen? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Sep 28 2007, 01:41 PM (613 Views) | |
| Chelsea | Sep 28 2007, 01:41 PM Post #1 |
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Weanling
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My horse has been lame for awhile now, the vet came out and saw im and said that he could have a Nerological diease. He took blood tests to see if it was EPM. Being me I don't know what that is (EPM) What is it? What heppens if he does have it? How is it cured? Is he still rideable if he does have it? - Chelsea |
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| guiiamarie | Sep 28 2007, 06:42 PM Post #2 |
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We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie!
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I pray that your horse doesn't have EPM. I had an INCREDIBLY well-bred pure egyptian mare who placed high at Arabian National's, Scottsdale, Canadian National's, etc. We decided to breed her and got two amazing foals. Well, one day we noticed she was acting weird. So, we put her in the quarantine barn. Next morning the caretakers went to check on her and she died. Horses can get EPM through their food and water if it has been contaminated. Turns out that the hay bale she was fed from had been used as a bathroom by a possum. She ate it and died as a result. It just makes me sick because she was quite possibly one of the best mares I've ever owned. Out of my 5 special mares I only have one left She lives in the pasture overseeing the other retirees.Catch it quick and get treatment asap. Unfortunately, we didn't catch it soon enough. |
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| NJGal | Sep 30 2007, 12:59 PM Post #3 |
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Schooling
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I had a friend who kept her mare at her own barn and was very meticulous about everything. A nice 5 stall barn - you could eat off her floor. Last fall her hunter mare was diagnosed with EPM and she is going to have to use her only for breeding. She sent her to Cornell and the vets there said they never fully recover and she would never be able to return to the show ring (as a hunter). She is only 5 and had started doing the pre-greens with her that summer. I sure hope it is not EPM. |
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| Chelsea | Sep 30 2007, 06:32 PM Post #4 |
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Weanling
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Well I go the test results back and He is positive for EPM. The owner of my stable said that we caught it in the very early stages (they think) so I am settign up a dadte to get a spinal tap done to see if it caused any nerological damage. Cross Fingers for the best. |
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| guiiamarie | Sep 30 2007, 06:45 PM Post #5 |
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We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie!
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Sorry to hear the bad news. Hopefully everything turns out alright. Alot of times it leaves severe brain damage and they aren't nearly as coordinated as they once were. We donated my mares body to Texas A&M to be used as a part of their study on EPM. |
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| justmagic | Sep 30 2007, 07:16 PM Post #6 |
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Is the meadow on fire?
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I have a positive EPM experience. I had a mare who had it. We caught it good and early and treated her with Marquis and she went back to the show ring without an issue. Good luck.
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| Casey1 | Oct 1 2007, 06:10 AM Post #7 |
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Magical Leopluridon
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EPM can be bad I have seen bad cases, however I have also seen a bad case go well. There was a horse in our area that was diagnosed he even had partial paralysis from it. The owners had money and they agressively attacked the EPM (this was early on in the discovery of EPM too) with the drugs on the market at the time. He made a better than full recovery. Went on to be a junior hunter star, qualified for indoors several times and was nationally rated. I think before the discovery of the EPM he had it but not severe enough to question. He is probably the exception to the rule story but it can give people hope! We all need hope! Good luck and I hope it is not EPM or any other neurological issue for that matter. Keep us posted. |
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| NJGal | Oct 6 2007, 01:00 AM Post #8 |
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Schooling
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I think the key to it is catching it early. My vet has said many times over... it can be a serious problem if not caught early. Many horses have had to be "retired" due to the disease. They never fully recover and have a lameness issue in the hind end, that can actually go unnoticed and says it could be a pulled suspensory, but it shows in their movement and temperment. (Very grouchy) and irritable, and "kicking out" while on course. |
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| OpticalIllusion | Oct 8 2007, 06:42 AM Post #9 |
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You're BANNED!
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Ok, key thing here is that a positive epm test does NOT always mean your horse actually has EPM. Over 50% of the tests come back positive. Rule out ALL other possible causes of lameness before deciding its EPM. Some horses do fine and manage it well. A place I worked at had a horse with it that was kept on medication and raced for several years with no problem. I know of several others that also are still ridden while having it. I had a personal horse that it completely took over in a matter of days and had to be put down. So there is a very wide spectrum. |
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| snaffle | Oct 8 2007, 06:27 PM Post #10 |
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Is the meadow on fire?
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Chelsea, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you and your horse. Yes, I've also heard that there are a lot of false positives with the blood test. Kudos to you for pursuing additional testing and catching it early (if that's what it is). One of my friends has had success with Marquis on her mare. |
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| Neighland | Oct 9 2007, 02:01 PM Post #11 |
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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I'll also chime in on the blood test, if you horse was ever vaccinated for EPM you will have a positive result.......I also thought the percentage of blood test positives were higher than 50% Marquis is a wonderful thing, and would recommend getting your horse on it ASAP! |
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| emmad | Oct 16 2007, 04:03 PM Post #12 |
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Weanling
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Just wondering if someone can explain what EPM is? I must confess that I've never heard of it. |
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| SadiesMom | Oct 16 2007, 04:14 PM Post #13 |
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Is the meadow on fire?
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EPM (equine protozoal myeloencephalitis) is an infection of the central nervous system. Possums are the leading carriers, but I think raccoons and others, too. I had always heard also that lots of horses tested positive (especially if vaccinated) but that did not necessarily mean they had EPM. At one of the farms I lived at and worked, I noticed one of the boarder's mare was kind of wobbly behind when she came in to eat (this was back in the early '90's) so we had the vet out and she tested positive for EPM. I am not sure what treatment they put her on, but I do remember that she made a full recovery. OP, sending out jingles for your sweet horse and you and just know there is hope! |
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| emmad | Oct 16 2007, 04:38 PM Post #14 |
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Weanling
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Hmm wonder if it is known here in NZ. We have a large possum population *sigh* but I can't recall hearing about this. We do get something where the horses are called Wobblers but I've never heard that linked to possums. Usually the result of an injury. |
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| Chelsea | Nov 3 2007, 09:16 AM Post #15 |
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Weanling
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Good News everybody!!! Jake my horse got a false positive I brought him to the Universty of Guelph and said he just has bad arthitis for his age (7 years old) Since he is still young htye said that his plates in his hock arn't fused togteher yet. SO THNAKS EVERYONE for the support Chelsea |
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She lives in the pasture overseeing the other retirees.



1:19 AM Jul 11