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[RC] [RC] Update on stumbling horse - EPM - Patti


From: "Dawn Carrie" < rdcarrie@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [RC]   [RC] Update on stumbling horse - EPM

Carla,
A positive blood test means ONLY that your horse has been exposed to the EPM
organism...NOT that he has EPM!!!  In some parts of the country (espcially
the SE), up to 60-70% of horses will show a positive blood test.  I urge you
to get some additional opinions, and if you still feel that your horse may
have EPM, consult with a veterinarian who has experience with EPM horses,
and have a complete exam done...where they put the horse through a battery
of physical tests to test his physical responses.
 
Would agree with Dawn on this.
 
I just got an email from a friend who had been treating a horse with Marquis at $750/month -
they took the horse in for evaluation for a new EPM flare up - Xrays showed there had been
a C-7 fracture just in front of the withers - possibly the horse never had EPM at all.
The vet decided to do the Xrays because he felt the neuro tests weren't conclusive for EPM.
 
On the other hand, I've seen some vets use the Marquis treatment as a "diagnostic" - if the horse
gets better, then it probably actually is/was EPM. (This turned out to be an expensive "diagnostic"
for my friend.)
 
Patti K
Vail AZ