My horse has recently finished her treatment for EPM. She was diagnosed with positive blood draw and physical exam. Her symptoms were very minor, they included minor loss of weight/muscle, and standing with back legs close together (sometimes almost crossing). That was it! My vet recommended I continue to ride her and compete. She never mis-stepped, showed any lameness, or balance issues. She only required 8 treatments of Protazil over a 4 week timeframe. I’m grateful that we found this very early! I’m curious what others have done after treatment. Anything I’ve read was from those that had severe symptoms. I like sticking with basics, proper nutrition and turnout,etc. But I wasn’t sure if supplements would be needed/beneficial. Also, I’ve read conflicting information on if the EPM symptoms could pop back up again later. Any experience with this?
Natural Vitamin E is often recommended for horses w neurologic problems. We used liquid Elevate, but I don’t remember the dosage- maybe 10ccs?
We put our horse on a conditioning program to regain fitness and strengthen any weak areas. He was ridden daily for a time doing these specific exercises. It did work to regain his smoothness, coordination, fitness, while we continued to ask for more as time passed.
Our horse also showed very minimal issues, some loss of coordination, rubbing his hind legs together to “know where his feet were” when resting. Big attitude change to grumpy, not friendly with his pasture buddies, staying alone to graze. He was NOT a loner before. Vet was surprised when he tested positive, no definate signs to point at. We knew him very well, horse was “just not quite right.” He was treated with Marquis, no work, no stress, turned out with friends on pasture for the course of meds over a 4 week time span. The Vet said horse will show visible improvement in attitude by the end of the first week, if he was going to get better. It was true, there was a much improved attitude by the end of 7 days, so we continued meds for the full 4 weeks.
Our Vet said that it seemed stress enabled the protazoa to escape the spinal cord and start causing problems. And pretty much any grazing horse in Michigan was going to test positive. All news to us! We had only heard of the sudden onset form of EPM. Horse would be fine, then out of control, falling, struggling an hour or two later. Their nervous sysstem was not fixable by then. They would be put down ASAP to prevent injury to people or itself.
Our horse had been stressed with changing his work from driving to lots of riding, increasing his travel to attend workouts, shows, all by himself. He was used to travel but always with his driving team mates. So evidently he “suffered in silence” which lowered his immune system. He always behaved well, performed as asked, until we put together the clumsy moments with a disease. He had NEVER been clumsy in work, we had owned and used him for 8 years before this came up.
After the one course of Marquis meds, he returned to work, never had any other issues with EPM. He went back to his busy riding schedule, adapting to his new work schedule. He was as coordinated, handy in his work as he was before the episode. Never had any other EPM issues. He was a really special horse for us, always up to whatever use we asked of him.
Thank you for the input! I’ll look into the liquid Elevate.
Goodhors, sounds like the same situation with what I’ve seen. Really no symptoms unless you looked closely. My horse is very honest and consistent so I knew something was up but wasn’t sure until I took her to the vet. I have been competing with her a lot this winter and did have a competition 10 hours away (before that we had always traveled within an hour of where we live). My vet and I are assuming the travel caused just enough stress to have this pop up. Thanks for your information, it is comforting. If you start researching EPM it can really scare you! But everything I read is on much more severe cases so it’s hard to relate to my situation. Thanks again!
Yes, 10,000 iu of a natural vitamin E product for at least a year. Otherwise, just start rebuilding slowly.
I’ve never had one with mild symptoms that didn’t go on without issue.
I’m rehabbing a now 20 y/o OTTB that had 3 rounds of Marquis two years ago. Alas, previous human failed to maintain proper high E and MSM dosing… plus had him stalled way too much. Also not on the right or sufficient feed, so lost 100 pounds. His right rear may never be “normal” but he moves quite well all things considered.
Since he’s been with me, tho, he gets 12000 IUs of Health E and 2 squirts liquid MSM. He’s out 24/7/365. Has put on about 75 pounds and has had 1 good chiro work out. I also trim him every 4 weeks.
He may never be 100% “normal” but the hope is that once he’s back in work (plan is for a trainer to put 30 days of Ground Driving only on him to-hopefully-redevelop topline), he’ll be good for trails and lessons 
It appears vitamin E is key to this. I just got some in so I’m starting that now. Wondering if this will always be needed. Maybe after a year it might depend on stress level? So maybe provide during competition season. Definitely a discussion I’ll be having with my vet. I’m glad we have the room for turnout in the pasture, it seems that’s also important. Right now they are just out for a few hours per day. It’s a large pasture with canyons/hills and from about April or May to September or October, depending on the grass, they are out in it 100%. Makes me wonder if she had the EPM earlier but didn’t show the signs until I brought her in for the winter months. It’s definitely an interesting disease, if you’re a nerd like me.
