On June 4th, Slim began displaying neurological symptoms and the very next day the vet was out to evaluate him and pull blood for testing. A week later, the test results are in and Slim does have EPM (Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis). The testing protocol is the IFAT which detects antibodies to the protozoa Sarcosystic Neurona that invade the central nervous system. Dr. Wright said Slims test read the highest he’s ever seen and that he was a very sick boy. On the Mayhew neurologic scale, Slim is graded at a 4, with 5 being the worst. The drug of choice, Marquis, which is a paste administered once a day for 28 days, expects to improve them 1, possibly 2 grades on that scale. So we do know that Slim will never return to normal. The protozoa that are attacking his central nervous system are doing too much damage. To date, he has been treated with 10 days of Marquis, but no improvement so far. My decision is to continue treatment for the entire 28 days, and if he does not respond, then we will stop treatment.
Caring for a horse with this disease is very costly, labor intensive and emotionally draining. However when I take on a senior horse as my own, I promise to love and care for them to the best of my ability, and Slim deserves a fair chance to see if he can beat the odds. Please continue to send positive energy and well wishes our way, as the next few weeks will be quite challenging for us.
Cindy Daigre is the founder of Ferrell Hollow Farm Equine Retirement Facility, specializing in individualized care for the senior, special needs horse.
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