EPM in horses is a disease that attacks the neurological system. It is caused by tiny parasites which can be found in opossums. The exposure occurs if the equine drink water or eat feed which may have been contaminated by the feces of 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.
To try and prevent the disease in stables, you should make the area unattractive to opossums, since they carry the organism which is the cause of the disease. Opossums are not choosy about what they eat. They eat almost anything, including cat and dog food, horse feed and dead animals.
To stop opossums from invading your stables, you should secure all food stores. If you come across animal carcasses on your property, you should bury it as soon as possible. Food spillage should be cleaned up quickly and not left lying on the ground. If you fear opossums may already have invaded your property, you should attempt to trap them in a humane way and relocate them. There is specially designed fencing to keep opossums off your property. This should be considered if opossums are becoming a nuisance on your property and possible danger to your horses.
EPM is a dangerous disease and at the first signs of it, you should arrange for examination of your horses by a veterinary specialist. Adequate veterinary care and a prompt diagnosis will give your equine the opportunity to recover from the infection. This infection often leaves horses with permanent damage. The vet will commence treatment by examining the gait and movement of the horse. It is important that blood and spinal fluid tests are done to rule out the possibility of diseases such as West Nile virus and viral encephalitis.
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.
To try and prevent the disease in stables, you should make the area unattractive to opossums, since they carry the organism which is the cause of the disease. Opossums are not choosy about what they eat. They eat almost anything, including cat and dog food, horse feed and dead animals.
To stop opossums from invading your stables, you should secure all food stores. If you come across animal carcasses on your property, you should bury it as soon as possible. Food spillage should be cleaned up quickly and not left lying on the ground. If you fear opossums may already have invaded your property, you should attempt to trap them in a humane way and relocate them. There is specially designed fencing to keep opossums off your property. This should be considered if opossums are becoming a nuisance on your property and possible danger to your horses.
EPM is a dangerous disease and at the first signs of it, you should arrange for examination of your horses by a veterinary specialist. Adequate veterinary care and a prompt diagnosis will give your equine the opportunity to recover from the infection. This infection often leaves horses with permanent damage. The vet will commence treatment by examining the gait and movement of the horse. It is important that blood and spinal fluid tests are done to rule out the possibility of diseases such as West Nile virus and viral encephalitis.
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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