Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis or EPM in horses is a neurological disease that is caused by a small parasite. The parasite is carried by opossums. Equine are exposed to the disease if they eat feed or drink water which has been contaminated by feces from 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.
The diagnosis of EPM in horses is not easy due to the similarity to many other potential neurological diseases. The symptoms of the disease vary from equine to equine and may include muscle weakness and atrophy. The animal may experience difficulty when swallowing. The horse could suffer from a sore back, a lack of suitable co-ordination and weakness.
In mild cases of the disease, the horse may present with mild stumbling and lameness. If the disease is not treated timorously, the equine will ultimately be unable to swallow or stand up of its own accord. Once it reaches this point of severity, the horse may die. The horse may also suffer from a tilted head and drooping eyelids. The disease is experienced by horses of any age, breed or sex. Younger equine are at higher risk, as are those that are transported on a frequent basis.
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 prevent these animals from invading your property, you should make sure that all food stores are secured. If there are dead animal carcasses on your property, you should make sure that these are buried as soon after death as possible. Food that has been spilled should be cleaned up immediately. If your property is at risk of opossums and you suspect that they are around, you should attempt to trap them in a humane way and remove them accordingly. You can choose to fence your property with specially designed fencing to keep opossums out. This is a good option if they have become a nuisance to your other animals.
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.
The diagnosis of EPM in horses is not easy due to the similarity to many other potential neurological diseases. The symptoms of the disease vary from equine to equine and may include muscle weakness and atrophy. The animal may experience difficulty when swallowing. The horse could suffer from a sore back, a lack of suitable co-ordination and weakness.
In mild cases of the disease, the horse may present with mild stumbling and lameness. If the disease is not treated timorously, the equine will ultimately be unable to swallow or stand up of its own accord. Once it reaches this point of severity, the horse may die. The horse may also suffer from a tilted head and drooping eyelids. The disease is experienced by horses of any age, breed or sex. Younger equine are at higher risk, as are those that are transported on a frequent basis.
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 prevent these animals from invading your property, you should make sure that all food stores are secured. If there are dead animal carcasses on your property, you should make sure that these are buried as soon after death as possible. Food that has been spilled should be cleaned up immediately. If your property is at risk of opossums and you suspect that they are around, you should attempt to trap them in a humane way and remove them accordingly. You can choose to fence your property with specially designed fencing to keep opossums out. This is a good option if they have become a nuisance to your other animals.
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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