Hmm, they have a blood test now? I had a horse that was
suspected of having EPM. A spinal tap was done and came back a weak
positive – or inconclusive, as a weak positive means the horse has been
exposed, but doesn’t necessarily have it. In Texas, they say 80% or
more of horses will test a weak positive. The next step in testing was a
full out neurological test. This took about an hour, going over
coordination, kinesetic (sp?), eyesight and balance. Other than the fact
that this horse liked to keep his front legged crossed, the vet could see
nothing that pointed to EPM. He told us to work and ride the horse over
the next couple of months and look carefully for any other signs that his
balance or coordination was going off and if we saw something, to bring him in
and we’d repeat both tests (neurological and spinal tap). Well, the
horse showed nothing but green spookiness, which he got over and he’s now
a multi hundred miler endurance horse who still likes to keep his front legs
crossed after flicking a fly away.
A couple of months after the mess with this horse,
a friend’s horse stumbled in the creek and cut it’s leg. in
the course of treating the cut, this horse started wobbling – staggering sideways
from the back end – as we would lead her down the barn aisle to
doctor. When turned, she would nearly fall down. This horse was
also tested for EPM and received a strong positive from both tests and was subsequently
put down as it was much more further progressed and her prognosis was poor.
So, there’s my two rat experience. I would definitely
not rely on just one test to diagnose EPM. Be thorough. If you do
get a positive, I have heard of horses being treated for this and still came
back and competed, so it is very possible! J
Rae
Tall C Arabians - Central
From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Horseraser@xxxxxxx Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 11:15 PM To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [RC] EPM
Okay my other family-please tell me everything you know and have
learned about EPM. We are sending in an EPM blood test on my beloved horse RC
Thank you in advance
Micki Turney
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