Even if the problem isn't WNV the treatment won't
hurt your horse, as apparently there is something going on, and the
treatment really is only for inflammation.
Lori B.
This is an important point, Lori. These horses present in such a way that
one should know they have something neurological and/or musculoskeletal
going on, and even if they turn out to be tied up, have EPM, have a
traumatic injury, or any of a whole host of other possible ruleouts, they
should still have symptomatic treatment to control the inflamation and the
neurological symptoms to minimize damage while one awaits the results of
various diagnostic tests. Much of the damage in many of these diseases
occurs due to unchecked inflamation. The only ruleout one might want to
do prior to starting heavy duty doses of inflamatory drugs might be a
quick chem panel to rule out tying up with potential kidney compromise, if
the horse's history warrants. But those results should be available
within hours, not days, still enabling one to start antiinflamatory
treatment relatively quickly.
Heidi
