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  Discussion on Stringhalt and EPM
Author Message
New Member:
Twister

Posted on Monday, Apr 17, 2006 - 8:57 pm:

I have an 8-yr-old Thoroughbred mare. In July she began showing symptoms of lameness in her left hind leg, hiking it upward with each step slightly. She also had a sweaty spot on the left side of her neck about as big as a man's hand that was surrounded by a completely dry coat and had a slight muscle atrophy on her left shoulder. The vet immediately diagnosed EPM. She did test positive on a blood test. She was treated in August with a 28-day regimen of Marquis, which had no effect. (I have to trust she was treated, I never actually witnessed it). She was turned out and a few months later I had another vet look at her. He looked carefully at her motion, especially lateral, and said she did not have an uneven gait consistent with EPM and is convinced she never had EPM at all. His diagnosis was stringhalt and he recommended increasing her exercise, which had no effect. Her leg hike does diminish and disappear at the trot and canter. Also, the affected leg seems to give out periodically but she catches herself and doesn't actually go down. She seems to know where her foot is since yesterday I saw her carefully step over a feed bucket. She has a sizeable muscle atrophy starting a few inches under her tail on that leg. I finally have her here at my new place and can treat her myself. My regular vet has recently looked at her again and is of the opinion that she won't recover. My question is: is EPM related to or cause stringhalt? I read the paper but it wasn't clear. Is there anything else I can try? I'm uneasy since these two vets came up with completely different diagnoses. Maybe there is another answer.

BTW: I have heard her full sister's polo career ended with a similar shoulder muscle injury and lameness in her front legs and her half-sister suffers from recurrent tying up.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 18, 2006 - 7:10 am:

Welcome Diana,
The symptoms you describe are consistent with Stringhalt and, with lack of other incoordination and muscle atrophy in the effected limb, this is unlikely to be caused by EPM. The article on Stringhalt explains probable causes and gives you both medical and surgical treatment options.
DrO
New Member:
Twister

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 18, 2006 - 11:26 pm:

Is the sweaty spot on her neck also consistent with stringhalt? That symptom was what led the first vet to diagnose EPM.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 - 7:28 am:

No. And why this wet spot would lead to a diagnosis of EPM induced stringhalt a little beyond me also.
DrO
New Member:
Twister

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 - 10:14 pm:

The first vet diagnosed EPM only based on a sweaty spot, leg hiking and slight muscle atrophy. The second vet diagnosed stringhalt and said she never had EPM in his opinion but her muscle atrophy in her hind leg has increased a little. Her leg hiking gait has not changed at all from the beginning but I have not seen the sweaty spot on her neck since she was treated with Marquis. Is it possible to have EPM first and then stringhalt secondarily, or possibly at the same time? Remember her gait has not changed or improved, but it also hasn't gotten any worse. It's frustrating because the inconsistent diagnoses, plus the complete lack of any treatment options and any improvement whatsoever makes me want to keep searching for another answer. Other than the initial EPM blood test neither vet has done anything but watch her walk. Isn't there something we can test for? For instance, to find out if she still has an EPM infestation or something to see if there truly is nerve damage due to trauma.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 - 7:49 am:

Yes any of the combinations you describe above are possible Diana. There are no tests that will determine the etiology (the cause) of the abnormal nerve's behavior. You can determine which nerves/muscles are effected using electromyography. The article has a summary of such a case. Without more evidence of EPM I would suggest you work directly on treating the Stringhalt with the options offered in the article.
DrO
New Member:
Halladay

Posted on Thursday, Nov 9, 2006 - 6:11 pm:

Diana,
How is your mare doing now? I also have a TB gelding with Stringhalt but he does not have any muscle atrophy.
Halladay
New Member:
Twister

Posted on Sunday, Dec 3, 2006 - 12:07 pm:

Halladay,
Her condition is unchanged. Her gait still shows the upward hike to her back leg, she still has muscle atrophy under her tail. What are you doing to treat your gelding? Have you seen any improvement at all? I was told regular exercise could offer improvement but I've seen none.
Diana
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