curiosity question. Horse with EPM that has been treated for over 3 months in the last year. Still seems to have symptoms that come and go but mainly stay. Mainly unstable gait, can’t walk a straight line. Lives out in pasture and it’s like a sailboat tacking the way he comes across the pasture to come to paddock to eat. Criss crossing his way over. Walks like a crab.
Anyway, it’s been super wet because of the rain and there is always standing water in puddles everywhere. The horses drink out of the puddles because they are convenient. They don’t even bother walking to the troughs
(big 14 acre pasture) when all they need to do is walk a bit and there is a big nasty puddle. NASTY puddles.
Question is, could this be a issue for this horse? We know there are opossums, coons and skunks in abundance out there and I’m sure that water is full of everything including frogs…
no way to keep him from drinking from the puddles if he lives in that pasture. Just curious to see if anyone thinks it could be a possible reason for him to have continual neuro evidence of EPM? He is old too…30ish I believe.
Thoughts?
added…not my horse.
My understanding of EPM is that once contracted, the horse will always carry the protozoa to some degree. Stress exacerbates symptoms – they’re never 100% ‘cured’-- regardless of the source of stress. This is more true of animals who are further along before treatment.
I cannot answer your question specifically though it would make sense to me. What I’d be more concerned about is leptospirosis or PHF.
I’m sure others will give more relevant answers. Or your vet…
I agree with George’s post. My horse was treated with Orogin, Neuroquel, Protazil and then a second course of Neuroquel before his titers came down and we felt the EPM was totally controlled. Orogin and Neuroquel are inexpensive through Pathogenes, which is Dr. Ellison’s lab and company. I would have your vet out again to repeat the neuro exam and titers. You may still have EPM, or may have a second neurological problem.
