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| Discussion on EPM + now considering treating for Lyme without testing first? | |
| Author | Message |
| New Member: paloma |
Posted on Monday, Feb 23, 2009 - 3:14 pm: Hello Dr. O and group,I apologize that this may be long winded, but I want to get all the details out right off. I have been reviewing posts for months now. I have read all the Lyme posts, those on EPM, pelvic injury, hock disease and stifle issues. All of the above could fit my horse's symptoms at some point. His lameness has moved around and he currently is sore on all four legs, SI joint, TMJ and has a ruffled look to his coat with some patches of dermatitis. His eyes are often dull, he pins his ears often although he is gentle, and he has no energy. He always eats well. Since my 2 vets are not sure what to do for my horse next, and following the recommendation to exercise him makes him worse, I feel I need to ask for HELP! His history is I think important to mention. I bought him as a 2.5 yr old, Tennessee Walking Horse 12 months ago from TN and had him shipped to CA. He passed a pre-purchase exam on arrival and I was present. He moved fine, although tired and thin, from the long haul. But, it did not take long though for me to notice he was quiet for a young horse, frequently standing hock to hock, his stifles were catching and his eyes were dull. Three months from purchase, he had a pasture accident, injuring his r/r stifle, and began to lay down a lot and had trouble getting up. My vet did hock x-rays which showed middle hock joint narrowing and bone spur, stifle ultrasound showed tendonitis and swelling in joint sheath. I have read gaited horses can have these issues, but he is so young! Both issues were treated with a few days of Dexamethazone and bute with a short lay up then prescribed light exercise. He seemed to recover and flexed sound in 2 weeks. However, his rear end weakness and lethargia lingered, and atrophied muscles of the right rump were noticed. He soon developed soreness in the front hooves and moved in a stiff stilted way on the front. I thought it was because his rear was so compromised, and followed the prescribed light exercise to strengthen his stifles. He was never ataxic or wobbly, just sore and weak, but he did develop some nasal snoring when exercised. I had him rechecked and we injected his hocks with cortisone and two weeks later he tripped and flipped, falling on flat ground from an extended walk. I know cortisone can lower the immune system, so that all seemed like a new red flag. I had him tested for EPM by WB serum, as that was the test my vet offered. (I now know the IFAT would have been more informational.) He was EPM POSITIVE and although I know that does not mean he had active protozoa, I chose to treat him for two months on Marquis. Two weeks into the Marquis he showed extreme muscle soreness and could not even be hand walked. My west coast vet had limited EPM experience and did not know to offer Banamine prior to treatment and my horse suffered for that. His stifles started to completely lock up, I think because he was so immobile by then. I then researched your posts on PREVICOX and begged to try that after weeks on Bute seemed to cause him to bite at his sides in ulcer symptoms with not much relief. He was on PREVICOX for two months and turned out on 1 acre with no hand walking and he did begin to show less pain, and walk more at liberty. Although he still had trouble getting up each morning. I have kept videos documenting all his symptoms which have helped me see the tiniest progress which has given me hope as he is getting up easier but is still sore all over and un rideable. The frustrating part is that upon rechecks at the clinic with my vet, my horse does not examine as lame and lethargic as he is at home. He tells me each visit, he seems better and to exercise him, but if I do, by day four my horse is too sore to even hand walk. I can not afford to haul him to the Specialty Hospital for bone scans etc. so I have tried to be patient that time to grow up would help him. I am heartbroken over all this and have used up all the emotional and financial support from my husband on this matter, yet I still want to try to help my horse. I have emailed the breeder in TN to see if they may have information on LYME in there area, but no reply as of yet. Dr. O, I wanted to ask if you would recommend I try to treat him with Doxycycline for the 28 day treatment period to see if he responds to that. Whether he may have Lyme disease, or even just inflammation of the joints I am wondering if it may be worth a try? My ranch vet said it would not be first on the to do list. We are currently working on rebalancing his hooves with the EPONASHOES in hopes that maybe that will resolve some of his body soreness, but I still feel strongly that there is another undiagnosed issue. Any day, my husband is going to say, "no more", and that is haunting me. I am desperate and welcome all of your suggestions. 
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| New Member: paloma |
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| Moderator: DrO |
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| Member: erika |
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| Member: frances |
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| New Member: paloma |
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| Member: leslie1 |
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| Moderator: DrO |
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