EPM

[draftfreak109]

I thought I'd let you guys know that Madison was just diagnosed with EPM
Even though its very expensive to treat, I'm just glad that at least its treatable so I'm super excited shes going to be ok. My mom said my grad present is going to be her medicine lol
Anyways I'll try to keep you updated throughout her treatment

[Lindsay* . The Perfect Fit .]

Aww, I'm sorry. But just remember that its treatable, but not cureable. Hopefully she responds well to the meds & that she works well through it!

[Savannah]

OMG I'm sorry. I hope she responds well to the treatment!

S

[*~* <3 Lauren <3*~*]

omg i'm so sorry i hope everything works out and she responds and gets better

[Erin]

I'm so sorry I hope she responds well to treatment. Genius had EPM a few years ago, so I kind of know what you're going through (I met him right as he was starting to recover & returning to light work). Keep us updated!

[Candace ♥'s Mitt-nacht]

awww, that's so sad!
i really hope the meds work.
goood luck
*and sorry for being.. unknowledgable, but what exactly is EPM?

[Erin]

I found this on a website, because while I know what it is, they explain it a lot better:


Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a master of disguise. This serious disease can be difficult to diagnose because its signs often mimic other health problems in the horse and signs can range from mild to severe.

More than 50 percent of all horses in the United States may have been exposed to the organism that causes EPM. The causative organism is a protozoal parasite named Sarcocystis neurona. The disease is not transmitted from horse to horse. Rather, the protozoa are spread by the definitive host the opossum. The infective stage of the organism, the sporocysts, are passed in the opossum's feces. The horse comes into contact with the infective sporocysts while grazing or eating contaminated feed or drinking water.

Once ingested, the sporocysts migrate from the intestinal tract into the bloodstream and cross the blood/brain barrier. There they begin to attack the horse's central nervous system. The onset of the disease may be slow or sudden. If left undiagnosed and untreated, EPM can cause devastating and lasting neurological damage.