epm preventative care

[MareMc56]

Any info on a preventative for epm...I think it's a vaccine you give a foal...any idea how long it's good for and would you need a booster?..one of my 2 year olds has been diagnosed and his symptoms are classic...he has responded well to Marquis and is progressing nicely..it looks like we caught it early....the vets here are well informed on treatment but not preventing.

[Lei Owen]

If there's not a vaccine, then the next best thing is a loaded .22, good aim and a sharp eye. NOT THE HORSE. The opossum!

[MareMc56]

Wow...it took me a minute to realize you were talking about shooting the opossum..I was wondering what you were doing on this site...but now that I've calmed down and realize I wasn't supposed to shoot the horse.... you're right..have read just about everything I can get hold of and have talked to Ohio State, UK , New Bolton and two drug companies....since I've posted we've had three more with symptoms all in the same barn... two more have tested positive and the fourth result isn't back but all have started treatment...the original colt has responded very well with Marquis($$$$)....thought it was a foal thing originally but 3 are foaled in KY and one in PA....so much for that theory...seems like it could have been feed that had possum droppings or cat food left in the barn when at night the possums feed on the cat food and leave droppings and the cats, mice, rats etc. step on the droppings and traipse them through the stalls....like there isn't enough to worry about with these kids.

[madelyn]

Cheaper than Marquis, Re-Balance seems to be pretty effective.

It is about $75 a month for Re-Balance, vs $600 for Marquis.

[mary syers]

What little I know about the vaccine:

The vaccine is effective and I have heard, but not read in the literature, relatively safe. It protects from one stain of protazoa. The problem is that there are at least seven strains that cause epm. Help but not complete prevention. Mary Syers

[Prairie]

My vet recommended that we pass on the EPM vaccination. He is privvy to research that indicates that the vaccine is ineffective (more than likely due to the problem referred to in Mary Syers' post).

I watched two friends' horses suffer through EPM during the early days--before Marquis. It was horrible and heartwrenching to see the effects of EPM on those horses--and their owners, who worked so hard to keep them comfortable and make them healthy again. Ever since then, I have been paranoid about my horse developing EPM. My vet knows how I feel and if he felt that the vaccine was beneficial, he would make sure my mare was protected.

[Lei Owen]

MM56, I was afraid you'd think I was suggesting shoot the horse.

I would suggest not feeding the cat's in the barn. If the opossum doesn't have a food supply, they'll leave.

[mary syers]

Lastest research shows that other small mammals may carry the protezoa including cats, raccoons and maybe dogs. Mary Syers

[MareMc56]

Happy to report that all infected are heading or are back on the track...one has won twice since treatment...one is shipping in from FL on Thurs. after much needed R&R...he seemed to be the worst case....he looks like a racehorse again...when we started treatment we shipped him to FL to recover and when he got on the van I wasn't at all sure he would make it...the last casualty is due to come back to the track in two weeks.....thank heavens for Marquis...now I must pay homage to the horse gods....and many thanks for all your suggestions.