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 Elite Veteran
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Location: on the fine line between insanity and geniusness | dianeguinn - 2016-12-06 2:19 PM
scwebster - 2016-12-05 1:49 PM
So if she is legged up to begin competition again, the stress could lead to her actually contracting the disease?
Yes. She HAS the disease if her numbers are that high. She's just not showing symptoms yet. A prime time to treat IMO....before there's damage.
I agree with this 100%. Almost everything in my barn has been treated- for this reason. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 2128
| Thank you guys. My vet pretty much said in a nut shell "All the test (western blot) proves is she's been exposed. She's not symptomatic so she must not have contracted it. (therefore doesnt have EPM" He didnt even think I needed to treat her, but he could tell I was very concerned so he gave me a treatment.
This is why I get confused about how this disease works.
*******From listening to my vet, MANY horses are exposed and that does not mean they will ever get EPM. High titer counts just mean their body reacted to the exposure. (similar to the way white blood cells will spike). And that most horses will fight it off themselves and it will never be an issue.
******Other research suggests that if they are exposed the parasite is in their body from now on. Treatment may keep titer counts to a lower level but the protazoa will always be there, floating around waiting for a weakness in the spinal cord in order to wreck havoc. That it is not cureable, and once a high titer count is discoved (even if not symptomatic) the horse has EPM and will always have EPM...you can manage it with treatment.
Furthermore, other articles give the idea EPM can be nipped in the bud with treatment, especially if caught early. That it is cureable.
Edited by scwebster 2016-12-06 3:31 PM
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 Lady Di
Posts: 21556
 
Location: Oklahoma | scwebster - 2016-12-06 3:22 PM
Thank you guys. My vet pretty much said in a nut shell "All the test (western blot) proves is she's been exposed. She's not symptomatic so she must not have contracted it. (therefore doesnt have EPM" He didnt even think I needed to treat her, but he could tell I was very concerned so he gave me a treatment. Â
This is why I get confused about how this disease works.
*******From listening to my vet, MANY horses are exposed and that does not mean they will ever get EPM. High titer counts just mean their body reacted to the exposure. (similar to the way white blood cells will spike). And that most horses will fight it off themselves and it will never be an issue.
******Other research suggests that if they are exposed the parasite is in their body from now on. Treatment may keep titer counts to a lower level but the protazoa will always be there, floating around waiting for a weakness in the spinal cord in order to wreck havoc. That it is not cureable, and once a high titer count is discoved (even if not symptomatic) the horse has EPM and will always have EPM...you can manage it with treatment.
Furthermore, other articles give the idea EPM can be nipped in the bud with treatment, especially if caught early. That it is cureable.
Â
No one knows for sure. My experience for the last several years is that, yes, you CAN cure it, but they won't be immune after having it, so there's nothing to keep them from picking it up again (just like worms).....so you have to constantly be an aggressor against the disease. And a vet telling you that numbers like your mare had won't ever affect her is simply asinine (or ignorant). That's like saying if you had a high white blood count all the time, it wouldn't be a problem....uh, yes it would. If I were you, I would treat it quickly and aggressively, and I'd treat until she has a negative test. | |
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Expert
Posts: 2128
| dianeguinn - 2016-12-06 6:29 PM scwebster - 2016-12-06 3:22 PM Thank you guys. My vet pretty much said in a nut shell "All the test (western blot) proves is she's been exposed. She's not symptomatic so she must not have contracted it. (therefore doesnt have EPM" He didnt even think I needed to treat her, but he could tell I was very concerned so he gave me a treatment.
This is why I get confused about how this disease works.
*******From listening to my vet, MANY horses are exposed and that does not mean they will ever get EPM. High titer counts just mean their body reacted to the exposure. (similar to the way white blood cells will spike). And that most horses will fight it off themselves and it will never be an issue.
******Other research suggests that if they are exposed the parasite is in their body from now on. Treatment may keep titer counts to a lower level but the protazoa will always be there, floating around waiting for a weakness in the spinal cord in order to wreck havoc. That it is not cureable, and once a high titer count is discoved (even if not symptomatic) the horse has EPM and will always have EPM...you can manage it with treatment.
Furthermore, other articles give the idea EPM can be nipped in the bud with treatment, especially if caught early. That it is cureable.
No one knows for sure. My experience for the last several years is that, yes, you CAN cure it, but they won't be immune after having it, so there's nothing to keep them from picking it up again (just like worms ).....so you have to constantly be an aggressor against the disease. And a vet telling you that numbers like your mare had won't ever affect her is simply asinine (or ignorant ). That's like saying if you had a high white blood count all the time, it wouldn't be a problem....uh, yes it would. If I were you, I would treat it quickly and aggressively, and I'd treat until she has a negative test.
Thank you so much for the advice. I did go ahead and buy treatment. I may have to PM you in the future if you don't mind. | |
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 My Heart Be Happy
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Location: Arkansas | Bump | |
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 Expert
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Location: Southeast Louisiana | Cowgirl Kat - 2016-12-06 11:40 AM
I always put my horses on THE EPM Formula after treatment. I leave them on it as a daily supplement and **knock on wood** no relapse. Â
Thanks for posting that info! It's great to know there is a THE formula for it. I love their products.
Which bb was it who sells THE? | |
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Expert
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| YAY my thread is back.  I may need to come back here for reference. :) :) :) Thanks MODS. | |
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Extreme Veteran
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| Diane --- what are you treating with??? | |
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