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Learn
to Recognize the Symptoms of EPM
Equine
Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a master of disguise. This
serious disease, which attacks
the horse’s central nervous
system, can be difficult to diagnose because its signs often mimic
other health problems in the horse and signs can range from mild
to severe. More than 50 percent of all U.S. horses have been exposed
to
the parasite that causes EPM. Horses can come into contact with the
parasite while grazing or eating feed or drinking water contaminated
by opossum feces. Fortunately, not all horses exposed to the parasite
develop the disease.
The clinical
signs of EPM can be quite varied. Clinical signs are
usually asymmetrical (not the same on both sides of the horse). Actual
signs may depend on the severity and location of the lesions that develop
in the brain, brain stem or spinal cord.
If left
undiagnosed and untreated, EPM can cause devastating and lasting
neurological
damage. Use this checklist of symptoms from
the American
Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) when assessing your horse’s
condition for the possibility of EPM:
- Ataxia (incoordination), spasticity (stiff, stilted movements),
abnormal gait or lameness.
- Incoordination and weakness which worsens when going up or down slopes
or when head is elevated.
- Muscle atrophy, most noticeable along the topline or in the large muscles
of the hindquarters, but can sometimes involve the muscles of the
face or front limbs.
- Paralysis of muscles of the eyes, face or mouth, evident by drooping
eyes, ears or lips.
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Seizures or collapse.
- Abnormal sweating.
- Loss of sensation along the face, neck or body.
- Head tilt with poor balance; horse may assume a splay-footed stance
or lean against stall walls for support.
Contact
your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your horse has developed
EPM. The sooner treatment
begins,
the better the horse’s
chances for recovery.
For
more information on methods of prevention and the treatment options
for EPM, ask your equine veterinarian
for
a copy of the “EPM: Understanding this Debilitating Disease” client
education brochure, provided by the AAEP in partnership with Bayer
Animal Health, an AAEP Educational Partner. Additional information
also can be found on the AAEP’s horse-health Web site, www.myHorseMatters.com.
Re-printed with permission from the AAEP and Bayer Animal Health.
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