Any Hope for EPM Related Spookiness?

[Megntron]

Looking for advice. I have a 10-year-old paint horse who was diagnosed with EPM in 2020. He didn’t experience muscle atrophy or weakness, but he has a stiffer gait. He is still very awkward cantering under saddle, and I believe the disease mostly settled in his poll/TMJ. Finding a bit that he didn’t hate was a nightmare for a few years. I’ve been riding him a lot to build up his muscles and grow his confidence again.

While we get back on track, I’ve noticed he has moments of unhinged spookiness. As you walk up to him in his stall, he can see you coming, and then he freaks out when you’re right in front of him like he’s never seen you before. Walking down the driveway (in which his pasture is next to), he saw a new neighbor and about went over backward from spooking so hard. Once he gets stimulated like that, there is no way to bring him back down to earth. I’ve tried being very chill and not reacting to trying to wear him out trotting for an hour (you could literally ride him until he fell over dead, and he would still be high as a kite). It’s like he cannot manage his stress levels and he almost hyperventilates.

He is on a magnesium supplement with tryptophan, Vitamin E, and Silver Lining Herbs and gets retreated with EPM meds once a year. He gets massages, chiro and PEMF. He has gotten better in general, especially in his stall. When he is great, he is a dream to ride. But when he blows up on the trails, it is absolutely unmanageable.

All of this is to say, has anyone experienced excessive spookiness after treating EPM? K. All of the EPM research I’ve found is mostly about treating EPM-related lameness and muscle issues. I’m struggling with whether this is a training issue or an illness-related issue. I have spoken with my vet, and I get told that “it is what it is,” but if there’s any hope of fixing him, I want to pursue it. I’m not looking to have a drugged-up horse to ride or force him to do the job if it’s stressing him out. I just want my old, chill trail buddy back. Please help.

EDITED TO ADD: I live in Kansas and purchased him from Wyoming. I didn’t know until after the fact that they don’t have EPM in the Northern states. I feel like that led to him being more affected and having lingering symptoms since he didn’t get to build up resistance from birth.

[joiedevie99]

We had one whose insane spookiness was the only symptom. It stopped within a week of starting Marquis and never returned. I’m afraid I haven’t heard many positive stories of horses whose symptoms lasted through the end of treatment. What was your horse’s titer at diagnosis, and what is it now? Unfortunately, EPM can cause permanent neurological damage and your vet may be right.

[bingbingbing]

So sorry you are going through this. I had one that started spooking and it was a double whammy of a Lyme flare up and EPM. After treating both he was back to himself. He had no other physical issues before treatment and was the lowest grade of neurologic before treatment.

@Megntron

He didn’t experience muscle atrophy or weakness, but he has a stiffer gait. He is still very awkward cantering under saddle

How does he do for a neuro exam? Does he jog sound? Have you considered ulcers on top of whatever else is going on physically?

@Megntron

I’ve been riding him a lot to build up his muscles and grow his confidence again.

What does riding him a lot mean? Are you WTC-ing?

[sparkygrace]

The parasite can affect more than just muscles. If the parasite crosses the blood brain barrier, it can affect eyesight and behavior. You may be seeing both problems.

[Megntron]

He does jog sound and he’s fine for neuro. His numbers were barely on the charts and we got to EPM by ruling out other things. We WTC for an hour several times a week along with hill work. He’s perfectly fine for weeks and then one day he’s so spooky that even putting the bridle on is terrifying.

And yes he has been treated with ulcers, is on forage only and turned out at least 12 hours a day.

[pompeiii]

I’m treating my OTTB right now for EPM and Lyme and spookiness was our main symptom too (along with a really stiff neck). All spookiness disappeared (beyond his usually reactiveness) in the first few days on Marquis but even just a few days of vitamin E and banamine prior to starting meds helped. Definitely within a week he was back to his old self. 17 more days to go… not that I’m counting….

[xitmom]

I have been treating my 10 year old TB for EPM for seven months. He, like yours, has not had muscle atrophy or weakness. He has had other symptoms such as hind toe dragging, tripping on the left hind, proprioception issues, and vision related spookiness. His titer was 1:4000. He was treated with Diclazaril and Vitamin E for several months with little improvement. He was treated with decoquinate/levamisole (off label) and we did see some some improvements but he has not recovered yet. Apparently horses symptoms with EPM vary so much. It is no wonder that the local vets do not have all of the answers, and unfortunately there are very few board certified equine neurologists / EPM specialists in the US to go to for help. We are still struggling with what to do next for my lovely horse.

[Megntron]

It is such an awful thing, and I’m sorry you’re going through it too. I have tried a bunch of supplements and sometimes I think it’s going great and then the next day something else pops up. I live fairly close to the University of Missouri, and they have a great neuro department. Still, I’m also wondering, after him struggling with it for several years, if there is even anything to be done.

[Megntron]

Fingers crossed for you. I’ve never even heard of Marquis before this forum. I am very curious about that one but I wonder if I didn’t get it in him immediately, if I’m too late. Has the neck stiffness went away as well?

[jherold]

You might test for Lyme and Anaplasmosis. My mare had some bizarre hypersensitivity to light touches and being saddled and just over all grumpyness. I was attributing it to behavioral issues until my vet tech mentioned they had another horse in the practice with similar symptoms that turned up positive for Anaplasmosis. That horse improved dramatically after just 3 days of treatment. Apparently other things can cause weird neurological symptoms!

[pompeiii]

Thank you! We’re a week and a half into treatment at this point. His neck is better though not fully resolved. I’m not sure if it’s from the Lyme or the EPM so… he definitely has improved range of motion.

In terms of timing, our spookiness started a month or so ago. I blamed winter. It wasn’t until his neck issues and a could of other “off” things (he had some muscle tremors and increased anxiety — he’s an anxious horse in general) that I realized the spookiness could have been a clue. That said, he wasn’t overly neurological and the vet suspected maybe Lyme. The EPM titer was a surprise (I know it’s not conclusive but he’s very much responded to treatment).

[EmilyM]

I see you wrote he is treated for EPM once per year. There is a “new” protocol that includes a weekly dose of protazil for chronic epm sufferers. I started my horse on it. His symptoms are not as serious as your horse. They are actually more stiffness. But his titers Would get very high. He has responded well to protazil full treatment (which I ended up doing twice per year) so my vet suggested once per week. I think it has helped keep him from getting stiff.
Protazil are the pellets, and I believe different drug from Marquis.

A check of the eyes and Lyme disease as others have suggested also sounds reasonable.

Best of luck. I hope you figure this out for you and your horse’s sake.

[sparkygrace]

My horse gets Protazil twice a week. That’s after a number of months on a daily dose. I am going to switch to a compounded ponazuril, which will be less expensive. He will be on meds forever as a precaution. I’ll also test occasionally. EPM sucks.