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EPM?; What is it and what can happen?
Topic Started: Sep 28 2007, 01:41 PM (614 Views)
Brickyard Farm
Schooling
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I also have a horse that thru bloodwork tested positive for EPM. The recomendation was to put him on Marquis (sp?) without the spinal. They thought if I treat him for EPM & he improves then chances are, he had it. The spinal is not easy & costly. I didn't have great success with the marquis. Some vets feel 2 months of marquis is needed. A few months later the same horse started showing signs again. (a bit off behind, grouchy, bouncy behind, runny nose, no energy, dull coat, just not right) I took him to a different vet & he said he was showing slight signs again. He gave him a drench once a week & meds every day for 1 mon. on a empty stomach. And folic acid (?) because the meds make them anemic. I saw wonderful results with this combo.

The vet said it may come back if put under great stress or may not. My vet is a huge wealth of info. with this. The drugs were 1/2 the $ of marquis. Same company I think ?????

If I can help you in any way, let me know. I know this can be VERY heart breaking. The vets name is Dr. Mazzariezi (sp?) located in NJ.
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Drakefly
I Visited Candy Mountain and All I Got Was This Lousy Incision
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OK well I was JUST going to make a post asking about EPM and I saw this thread so Im going to post here...

My pony was recently diagnosed with EPM (just 3 months after being diagnosed with Cushings :( ) I got the diagnosis from a positive Spinal Tap that was done. I dont have the $$ to shell out 1K a month for the Marquis so I am using the cheaper meds. Vet told me that he will have to take it for at least 3 months. He is now on day 5 as of today.

The symptoms initially were lack or coordination of his hind end...more so on the right than the left. He just moved "not right." A lot of people at the barn thought I was imagining things actually and didn't see anything wrong with him....I guess they just were looking for him to be limping around... (THAT was annoying). After I trailered him over to UT to get tested to find out what was wrong with him...2 days later he was alot worse! He is now having trouble lowering his head to reach grass/hay. He is also moving a lot slower...like being more careful about what he is doing bc I bet he fees not right.

Anyways...I was hoping to hear from some people here about their experiences with EPM...and the CHEAPER meds.... how long does it take for them to start getting better? How good are my chances that he will recover fully?? He is only 9 btw.... It was about 9 days after I initially discovered him "not right" in the hind that I was able to get him to UT and get him started on anything.

Please! Someone tell me this will get better!?!?
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Chelsea
Weanling
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Darkefly,
My horse wasn't right ethier. he has been lame off and on for the past 6 months. I never rode him unless the vet said it was okay. He was first diagnosed with a Bone Spavin. Which healed. Then he was still lame. So My vet thought it might be EPM, because he had a funky back end movement. I spent 125$ too get the blood test taken. When the results came back he said it was POSITIVE. I thought the worst. He said my options were we can take him to Guelp and get a spinal tap to see if he has an Nerological Damge (Brain Damage) if he does then put him on the meds for a month. If the meds didn't work we were to put him down. When I went to Geulph they insturcted me not to get the spinal tap done because he didn't show any signs of Brain Damage. He passed all the flexion test and things like that. They said if I wish I could get it done. But it is a VERY RISKY persidure. So I diceded I didn't want it done. We took some X- rays of his hocks and he ONLY HAD ARTHIRITS! My horse was 7.

I underdstand how you are feeling because I went through it. Even though my horse tested positive for EPM the vets, surgions and everyone said it was a false positive.

When your horse got the spinal tap done did the vets say anything about Nerolgical Damage? I now alot of horse who have recovered because of the meds. Just have hope and hope for the best. I wish you good LUCK!

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Drakefly
I Visited Candy Mountain and All I Got Was This Lousy Incision
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I asked the vets how invasive a spinal tap is and they told me that it isn't too risky... He told me my horse might have a head ache for a few days if he moved around a bit and some fluid leaked when they did the tap. A spinal tap is the ONLY way to know for sure your horse has EPM. Blood tests aren't really reliable bc so many horses till test positive if they've only been exposed to it.

I dont think EPM would cause a horse to be LAME...ie not pass a flexion test. the vets did one on my guys in case it was an injury and not neurological but he didn't show any lameness which indicated that it was a neurological problem and not a pain problem.

I do not think the spinal tap tests for DAMAGE done...it tests the fluid to see if the protozoa that causes EPM has made it into the nervous system or not. If a horse has EPM...then it will be in the spinal fluid.
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