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HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Nervous System » Incoordination, Weakness, Spasticity, Tremors » EPM, Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis »
  Discussion on EPM treatment
Author Message
Member:
Aeowen

Posted on Thursday, Sep 18, 2003 - 3:44 pm:

My Morgan gelding was just diagnosed yesterday with EPM - his only signs were dragging behind, moving one hind leg 'funny' and quite a bit of reluctance to move. When tested, the vet could pull him nearly off his feet by the tail on both sides. The circling test was fine, showing that he knows where his feet are, but he had difficulty even in the flexion testing standing up, and when one leg was held up he hopped until he got the other one in the middle of his body.

At any rate, he was started on the Marquis paste, and he also is receiving bute and dex.

My questions are:

1. I have read that the dex can act as an immunosuppressant. Isn't that the opposite of what we want in this horse to fight the protazoa?

2. I'm a bit confused as to the grades. The only noticable thing about this horse is the dragging foot (and it's not consistent, it's every fourth or fifth stride) and the tail pull, does that make it a 1 or a 2?

3. Is there any need for additional vitamin etc. supplementation while he is on the medication? I have read about folic acid being required when they are on the sulfa. He currently is on a very good (well, good by him) diet of alfalfa/grass hay mix and Strategy pellets. He receives 2 hours of turnout per day because of his fly sensitivity and tendency to balloon up with too much grass. His coat is shiny and glossy and he is totally dappled (he's a bay).

4. I have not read about horses being placed on all 3 medications, so I'd like to make sure this is a wise course of action.

Thanks in advance
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Sep 18, 2003 - 9:58 pm:

1) Yes,though horses with disease so serious that they cannot get around have had steroids recommended in hopes of returning basic function by cooling down the inflammation.
2) The grading really is subjective and has to be done by the person looking at the horse.
3) Our recommendations for treatment are in the article. Vitamin supplementation is not a strraight forward and folic acid is contraindicated: the article explains more about this.
DrO
Member:
Aeowen

Posted on Friday, Sep 19, 2003 - 2:04 pm:

Thanks Dr. O, I read the article but I did not find where folic acid is contraindicated. I will re-read.

I'm still confused as to the administration of dex, as this horse gets around just fine, it's mainly a gait abnormality that has been detected and a reluctance to go faster, rather than a down and out refusal to move.

I've read elsewhere that vitamin E has been recommended? Is E fat soluable? Could that hurt him?

thanks.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Sep 22, 2003 - 5:39 am:

To the degree that your horse is not getting recommended amounts of vitamin E it may help but there are no specific therapeutic indications for it. Yes vitamin E is fat soluble but unlike the other fat soluble vitamins is not easily overdosed and toxic. See » Care for Horses » Nutrition » Vitamin E and Horses for more.
DrO
Member:
Ryle

Posted on Monday, Aug 30, 2004 - 4:26 pm:

Bevin,
I contacted Dr. MacKay at the Univ. of Florida to ask about the use of steroids in EPM horses. This is a direct quote from his email: "OCCASIONALLY, IN A HORSE THAT IS FIXING TO BECOME RECUMBENT IT MAY BE
OK TO USE DEX FOR A DAY OR SO; OTHERWISE, IT IS A BIG NO-NO"

Cindy D.
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