Three weeks ago my horse was diagnosed with EPM - very high positive but didn’t have any neuro symptoms. Did have muscle atrophy, hind end weakness, and issues sweating - also just overall very body sore!
Hes been on the Marquis and is gaining muscle, seems stronger behind, but is very very lazy/tired! Our vet said to keep riding him - and he’s exhausting to ride! Could this be a side effect from the marquis?
It’s hard work building muscle and recovering from being sick. We always brought ours back very slowly to work. Only side effect I’ve ever seen with Marquis is seizures.
What sort of work are you asking of him, for how long, and how many days a week?
For the horses I’ve known who have been diagnosed, they vets have told owners to keep work very light while in treatment. Walking, even to the point of just hand walking, depending on the severity of issues. Horses with neuro symptoms were just hand walked, to maybe walked under saddle but on flat ground. Horses who only had muscle wasting were kept to walking under saddle on whatever surfaces they were comfortable on. That was for the duration of treatment, and a couple weeks after.
From that point, work could build.
Remember that EPM work by destroying nerve connections. In the best cases, it’s a temporary thing, and quick and effective treatment means they can re-build those. But that takes time. Sometimes lots of time.
He gets worked regularly - 6 days a week and normal work load. Vet said to keep him in regular work? Hoping this is ok!!
He wasn’t showing many clinical signs other than low muscle tone and He was weak behind - occasionally falling out behind
we had her out to do routine injections and she wanted to pull blood to test for epm and Lyme as she thought he was extremely body sore.
Sure enough it came back a high positive (on the range of the titer his was the highest it went)
really hope her saying he can stay in full regular work is ok! He did seem better today - slightly more energy.
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