Equine Solutions Network- Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis Clinical Signs & Symptoms

Abnormal Behavior:

Head shaking even with no flies or gnats present.
Head wringing at rest, not characteristic for your horse.
Yawning excessively meaning more than 4 or 5 times in a row.
Lips may be drooping with or without salivation.
Tongue may be seen hanging between teeth.
Neck stretching with back arching at the same time horse will usually pin their ears, stretch rear legs or possibly look or bite at their back or barrel area.
Abnormal sweating or inappropriate sweat patches, or shower like appearance.
Sweat may appear only on one side of the horse.
Rear leg stretches that appear like a locking up of the stifle. May appear like a colic symptom.
Difficulty swallowing and may stand at water for extended periods of time or drop food while eating.
Poor Balance with the horse leaning on stall walls, fences, or trees for support.
Standing in odd positions liked T-Peed or in a "Morgan stance" with limbs stretched out.
Depression or lack of play and movement in pasture.
Fatigue or Lethargy with the horse lying down for extended periods of time, or more often throughout the day.
Narcoleptic symptoms in which the horse may suddenly "fall asleep" from a standing position, and appear to be, going to collapse.
Seizures
Tremors
Swaying

Abnormal Eye Control:

One eye may close more often than the other and for extended periods of time.
Horse may appear to be winking.
Eyes have a jerky appearance.
Eyes have a bluing appearance.
Depth perception problems that causes bumping into objects.
Horse appears to be spooking at the ground, or stepping over objects that aren't there.

Breathing Abnormalities:

Inhaling snorts, snoring, roaring, or deep huffing breaths.
Reduced tolerance to exercise.
Nostrils may be flared or wrinkled.
May see horses that appear to be "panting" through nostrils, even at rest.

Abnormal Body Condition:

Muscle atrophy or a hole or dent in the muscle; usually in the hindquarters of the horse.
Loss of muscle may be seen along the entire topline of horse.
Tail may be limp, or lacking tone. "Wry tail", held off to one side or the other.
Loss of body condition or weight; especially along the topline of the horse.
Front Legs may show, bucked shins, splints, open abrasions on the front or sides of the fetlocks.
Back Soreness

Abnormal Movement:

Stubbing front toes, causing stumbling, and stiff, stilted gaits.
May have a Navicular appearance to their movement, or paddle with their front limbs.
Uncoordinated or difficulty backing and toe dragging in the rear on forward movement.
Appearance of stepping over logs or inability to find the ground with their feet.
Goose stepping or swinging rear legs wide on turns.
All movement worsen going up or down hills, especially with head elevated.
Unexplained Lameness that doesn't seem to subside with pain medication or blocking.
Hooves and coronet bands may show clipped marks and scuffs on the inside of their hooves from stepping on themselves.

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HOME EPM INFORMATION COLLIODAL SILVER WEST NILE VIRUS INFO RAINBOW BRIDGE MEMBERS PAGES			EPM CLINICAL SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS ** While these symptoms are in no way all that may be associated with EPM, they are the ones most commonly exhibited by members' horses here at ESN. Most horses will demonstrate one of more of these symptoms at some time in their life, and that is not cause for alarm. It is the accumulation of symptoms that tends to indicate the likelihood of a protozoan infection. Abnormal Behavior: Head shaking even with no flies or gnats present. Head wringing at rest, not characteristic for your horse. Yawning excessively meaning more than 4 or 5 times in a row. Lips may be drooping with or without salivation. Tongue may be seen hanging between teeth. Neck stretching with back arching at the same time horse will usually pin their ears, stretch rear legs or possibly look or bite at their back or barrel area. Abnormal sweating or inappropriate sweat patches, or shower like appearance. Sweat may appear only on one side of the horse. Rear leg stretches that appear like a locking up of the stifle. May appear like a colic symptom. Difficulty swallowing and may stand at water for extended periods of time or drop food while eating. Poor Balance with the horse leaning on stall walls, fences, or trees for support. Standing in odd positions liked T-Peed or in a "Morgan stance" with limbs stretched out. Depression or lack of play and movement in pasture. Fatigue or Lethargy with the horse lying down for extended periods of time, or more often throughout the day. Narcoleptic symptoms in which the horse may suddenly "fall asleep" from a standing position, and appear to be, going to collapse. Seizures Tremors Swaying Abnormal Eye Control: One eye may close more often than the other and for extended periods of time. Horse may appear to be winking. Eyes have a jerky appearance. Eyes have a bluing appearance. Depth perception problems that causes bumping into objects. Horse appears to be spooking at the ground, or stepping over objects that aren't there. Breathing Abnormalities: Inhaling snorts, snoring, roaring, or deep huffing breaths. Reduced tolerance to exercise. Nostrils may be flared or wrinkled. May see horses that appear to be "panting" through nostrils, even at rest. Abnormal Body Condition: Muscle atrophy or a hole or dent in the muscle; usually in the hindquarters of the horse. Loss of muscle may be seen along the entire topline of horse. Tail may be limp, or lacking tone. "Wry tail", held off to one side or the other. Loss of body condition or weight; especially along the topline of the horse. Front Legs may show, bucked shins, splints, open abrasions on the front or sides of the fetlocks. Back Soreness Abnormal Movement: Stubbing front toes, causing stumbling, and stiff, stilted gaits. May have a Navicular appearance to their movement, or paddle with their front limbs. Uncoordinated or difficulty backing and toe dragging in the rear on forward movement. Appearance of stepping over logs or inability to find the ground with their feet. Goose stepping or swinging rear legs wide on turns. All movement worsen going up or down hills, especially with head elevated. Unexplained Lameness that doesn't seem to subside with pain medication or blocking. Hooves and coronet bands may show clipped marks and scuffs on the inside of their hooves from stepping on themselves. It is our hope that, through an awareness of these symptoms, an earlier diagnosis of EPM can be made, enhancing the chance of the horse's recovery.
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