What causes horse EDM?

Equine neuroaxonal dystrophy (eNAD) and equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (EDM) result from abnormalities of specific neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord. Research suggests that eNAD is the underlying basis for EDM, which is the more advanced form of the disease.

Is there treatment for EDM in horses?

Animals predisposed to EDM or with a clinical diagnosis of EDM should receive oral alpha-tocopherol acetate supplementation. Improvement in clinical signs may be seen following long-term treatment, but in general, the prognosis for complete recovery is poor.

What are the signs of EDM in horses?

The clinical signs of eNAD/EDM are an early onset of symmetric ataxia (≥ grade 2/5),¹⁰ abnormal stance at rest, prominent hypermetria when walked with the head elevated, and general proprioceptive deficits.

How do horses get EPM?

EPM is caused by a parasite, Sarcocystis neurona, spread in the feces of opossums. Hay, feed and water contaminated by parasite-infested waste are the most likely sources of infection. When eaten, the organism's eggs, called sporocysts, migrate to the central nervous system (CNS) to multiply.

How do you treat EPM in horses?

Salvatore Ganacci - Horse (Official Music Video)

What are the first signs of EPM in horses?

Seizures or collapse. Abnormal sweating. Loss of sensation along the face, neck or body. Head tilt with poor balance; horse may assume a splay-footed stance or lean against stall walls for support.

Can a horse fully recover from EPM?

The chances of a successful recovery are greatly dependent on the amount of nerve damage sustained by the horse, which itself is dependent on how quickly the horse is diagnosed and how soon treatment commences.

Can EPM come on suddenly?

The onset of the disease may be slow or sudden. If left undiagnosed and untreated, EPM can cause devastating and lasting neurological damage. The clinical signs of EPM can be quite varied. Clinical signs are usually asymmetrical (not the same on both sides of the horse).

Can horses get EPM from grass?

Horses are exposed to EPM when they drink water or eat grass, hay, or grain that has been contaminated with the feces of opossums infected with the protozoal parasite Sarcocystis neurona.

Is EPM preventable?

Diagnosis is based on a combination of neurologic signs and serologic tests. Antiprotozoal drugs improve clinical signs in most horses, but complete recovery occurs less commonly, and clinically recovered horses may suffer relapses. There is no vaccine for EPM.

Can horses recover from EDM?

Once clinical signs of eNAD/EDM are observed, the progression of the neurological deficits can be slowed or halted through dietary vitamin E supplementation, but they cannot be reversed. Clinical signs of the disease typically stabilize on their own at approximately two years of age in most horses.

What triggers EMS in horses?

What causes EMS? EMS is a result of genetic predisposition combined with environmental and physiological factors such as obesity, high sugar diets, lack of exercise, and concurrent illnesses. Horses and ponies with EMS are often described as being “easy keepers” and have a tendency to become overweight.

Is EDM in horses genetic?

eNAD/EDM appears to be inherited and has been reported among many breeds. eNAD/EDM affected foals often have low serum vitamin E concentrations. This disease has a genetic basis, with clinical expression in genetically predisposed foals being influenced by dietary vitamin E.

Does Vitamin E help horses with EPM?

The nutrient that is most commonly focused on for horses with EPM is Vitamin E. Supplementation with high levels of natural Vitamin E are often encouraged, as Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that supports nerve function and the immune system. Levels of 5,000 to 10,000 IU per day are recommended during treatment.

Are horses in pain with EPM?

Horses that are suffering from EPM will also be painful around the occiput and atlas, due to the inflammation going on in the spinal cord. If you have the horse walk and have someone walk behind them and pull them by the tail off to one side, they will be unable to right themselves.

What do you feed horses with EMS?

Horses that have EMS and need to lose weight should be restricted to a diet of grass hay at 1- 2% of their body weight with all treats eliminated from the diet.

Can horses get EPM from water?

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a neurologic disease in horses caused by infection with the protozoan Sarcocystis neurona (SN). SN infects horses when they ingest the organism in contaminated feed or water.

Can horses be vaccinated for EPM?

“Because there is no cure for EPM, disease prevention plays a prominent role in protecting horses,” said Laura Petroski, B.V.M.S., a veterinarian for Kentucky Equine Research (KER). “To help protect horses against EPM caused by S. neurona, a vaccine was developed and conditionally licensed.

How much does EPM treatment cost?

Treatment of EPM in Horses

This is currently the “gold standard” in the EPM treatment world, and usually costs roughly $1,000-$1,500 per month. Diclazuril (Protazil): an alfalfa-based top feed medication. This can be administered daily usually for 1-3 months for treatment, and typically costs $800-$1,000 per month.

How do vets check for EPM?

The standard of practice for diagnosis is to perform a complete neurological exam, accompanied by laboratory tests that detect an immunological response to infection. Testing of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), with a paired serum, is more predictive of active disease than serum alone.

Can mice spread EPM?

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis or EPM is a disease affecting the nervous system. It occurs in horses when a horse consumes food or water contaminated by protozoan Sarcocystis neurona (a parasite commonly spread by opossums, mice, raccoons, and other similar critters) or less commonly protozoan Neospora hughesi.

Does EPM show up in bloodwork?

The blood test detects antibodies to S. neurona. A negative blood test can virtually rule out EPM, missing only those horses who have so recently (one to two weeks) been exposed to the protozoa that they have not yet produced specific antibodies.

Does ivermectin treat EPM?

Treatment schedule

If he does not have a history of de-worming within the past four months, my recommendation is to begin with a dose of Ivermectin. Because Ivermectin causes a slow kill, it will prevent a worm impaction if the horse has a large number of worms.

Should you exercise a horse with EPM?

Exercises I like to recommend include hill work (going both up and downhill), ground poles, and cavaletti. Stepping over ground poles and cavaletti can also be very beneficial for horses recovering from neurologic conditions such as Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM).

What should I feed my horse with EPM?