Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis or EPM in horses is a neurological disease that is caused by a small parasite. The parasite is carried by opossums. Equine are exposed to the disease if they eat feed or drink water which has been contaminated by feces from opossums.
The symptoms related to this disease vary greatly. It is dependent on the part of the nervous system that has suffered the attack. The protozoa that are present could leave the equine with spinal cord or brain stem lesions. This disease occurs most often during the summer and fall months of the year, however the fall appears to be the worst time for infection. The symptoms of the disease develop slowly and could be present in the horse for a few days after the initial infection.
It is not easy to make a diagnosis of EPM in horses as there are several neurological diseases with similar symptoms. The symptoms are not the same for each horse. The horse may suffer from weakness and muscle atrophy. It may also experience difficulty when it tries to swallow. The equine may suffer from pain in its back, weakness and a distinct lack in co-ordination.
If the horse it suffering from a mild form of EPM, it may appear to stumble and suffer from slight lameness. This requires immediate treatment as a delay could end in the horse being unable to swallow or stand. At this point, the severity of the disease puts the horse at risk of death. The horse may suffer from a head that is tilted and eyelids that become droopy. Any breed, age or sex of horse may be affected by the disease. Horses that are transported frequently and younger horses are more at risk of contracting the disease.
Prevention of the disease is possible in stables that do not attract opossums as they are the carriers of the disease-causing organism. Opossums are not selective about their eating fancy. They eat virtually anything, including dead animals, horse feed, dog and cat food.
To avoid invasion from these animals, ensure that all food stores are secure. If there are animal carcasses on the property, ensure that they are buried as quickly as possible. Spilled feed should be cleaned up promptly and not left lying around. If you suspect that opossums are on your property, you should trap them in a humane manner and remove them. It is possible to obtain fencing that has been specially designed to keep them out. This is a good option to consider if opossums have become a nuisance on your property.
This is a dangerous disease and horses that show signs of it should be examined by a veterinary specialist as soon as possible. A quick diagnosis and proper veterinary care will allow the horse to recover from the disease. The infection may leave the animal with permanent damage. The vet will normally examine the movement and gait of the equine. It is vital that spinal fluid and blood tests are undertaken to rule out diseases such as viral encephalitis and West Nile virus.
The treatment process for EPM in horses may include a variety of drugs which the veterinary surgeon will administer. The length of the treatment process could be long and expensive. The downside of the lengthy treatment process is that it is not guaranteed to be a success.
The symptoms related to this disease vary greatly. It is dependent on the part of the nervous system that has suffered the attack. The protozoa that are present could leave the equine with spinal cord or brain stem lesions. This disease occurs most often during the summer and fall months of the year, however the fall appears to be the worst time for infection. The symptoms of the disease develop slowly and could be present in the horse for a few days after the initial infection.
It is not easy to make a diagnosis of EPM in horses as there are several neurological diseases with similar symptoms. The symptoms are not the same for each horse. The horse may suffer from weakness and muscle atrophy. It may also experience difficulty when it tries to swallow. The equine may suffer from pain in its back, weakness and a distinct lack in co-ordination.
If the horse it suffering from a mild form of EPM, it may appear to stumble and suffer from slight lameness. This requires immediate treatment as a delay could end in the horse being unable to swallow or stand. At this point, the severity of the disease puts the horse at risk of death. The horse may suffer from a head that is tilted and eyelids that become droopy. Any breed, age or sex of horse may be affected by the disease. Horses that are transported frequently and younger horses are more at risk of contracting the disease.
Prevention of the disease is possible in stables that do not attract opossums as they are the carriers of the disease-causing organism. Opossums are not selective about their eating fancy. They eat virtually anything, including dead animals, horse feed, dog and cat food.
To avoid invasion from these animals, ensure that all food stores are secure. If there are animal carcasses on the property, ensure that they are buried as quickly as possible. Spilled feed should be cleaned up promptly and not left lying around. If you suspect that opossums are on your property, you should trap them in a humane manner and remove them. It is possible to obtain fencing that has been specially designed to keep them out. This is a good option to consider if opossums have become a nuisance on your property.
This is a dangerous disease and horses that show signs of it should be examined by a veterinary specialist as soon as possible. A quick diagnosis and proper veterinary care will allow the horse to recover from the disease. The infection may leave the animal with permanent damage. The vet will normally examine the movement and gait of the equine. It is vital that spinal fluid and blood tests are undertaken to rule out diseases such as viral encephalitis and West Nile virus.
The treatment process for EPM in horses may include a variety of drugs which the veterinary surgeon will administer. The length of the treatment process could be long and expensive. The downside of the lengthy treatment process is that it is not guaranteed to be a success.
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