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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 561
 
Location: somewhere in the south | Ok, so we have a gelding, 13 yrs old, and in reasonably good shape. Well a couple weeks ago, we noticed his left side (of his face) was kinda sunk in around his eye and his jaw............doesn't have any trouble eating, bending, nothing really. Took him to the vet and had scope done on sinus' and xrays of his head/face. Nothing! So vet drew blood to test for anything wrong and results came back with some slight indications of possible epm but they want draw more to test for lyme disease and some vitamin deficiencies. Any help from you guys would be greatly appreciated!! Anybody ever see anything like this? He really doesn't seem to be in any pain and travels well, was having a great time running the pastures with the other horses today!
Edited by turn3nhome 2018-11-04 3:30 PM
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Posts: 12838
  
| I would just go ahead and treat for EPM. Doesn’t hurt to check for other problems. EPM affects every horse differently. By the way, do you have barn cats. Just a survey I am doing |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 762
Location: NC | I new a horse that had the same exact thing and his was from epm. Even after they cleared it up his face remained the same
Edited to add this was about 10+ years ago before people were really knowledgeable about EPM. and he was owned by a teenager.
Edited by Racer4eva 2018-11-05 7:13 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 561
Location: somewhere in the south | We have one that goes from the house to the barn when we go...............only stays up there long term in the winter when the horses are up more! |
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Defense Attorney for The Horse
Location: Claremore, OK | I would suspect EPM. Facial muscles, especially the forehead muscles are usually the first to go. Usually one side will be normal and the other side will have slight atrophy.
Low titers can sometimes mean he has no immune system to fight it off, vs. him not having an active case. |
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| turn3nhome - 2018-11-05 9:01 AM
We have one that goes from the house to the barn when we go...............only stays up there long term in the winter when the horses are up more!
My vet and I have had the discussion bout EPM coming from cats. The protozoan that causes toxoplasmosis is very similar to the one that causes EPM. I ask everyone about the barn cats. |
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Defense Attorney for The Horse
Location: Claremore, OK | streakysox - 2018-11-05 10:06 AM
turn3nhome - 2018-11-05 9:01 AM
We have one that goes from the house to the barn when we go...............only stays up there long term in the winter when the horses are up more!
My vet and I have had the discussion bout EPM coming from cats. The protozoan that causes toxoplasmosis is very similar to the one that causes EPM. I ask everyone about the barn cats.
There are many types of anilmals that carry various forms of Protozoa, including cats with toxoplasma gondii. Birds carry various forms. This is one reason why I have a problem relying on UC DaviS IFAT test since it only testing for 2 types of Protozoa titers.
Interestingly, the most successful EPM treatments are all some type of coccidiostadt from the poultry or cattle industry. |
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