EPM-Marquis

[lucyk]

Has anyone had any luck with using Marquis for EPM? It's very expensive, so I hope it's the best stuff to get. I am starting my horse on it tomorrow, per the Vets recommendation after a neurological exam.

[deltawave]

I used it (the normal 4-week course) when my mare got EPM. She had about a 95% neurologic recovery.

[mroades]

I have one on toltazuril paste right now. Much cheaper and seems to be doing the job

[2horseowner]

My horse is now on his 4th week of it. I can not believe the change. He did not have the neuro issues, but he did have muscle atrophy all along his top line and hindquarters. The blood test was positive. EPM can show different symptoms. I could never put weight on him. This is a 17hh tb who looked like he was headed to auction. He is 15 and is filling out nicely. Yes, Marquis is $$$, but I feel it's been worth it. I plan on keeping him on it for 2 more months. I got a scrip from my vet to order on-line, much cheaper. There is a great epm group on yahoo, lots of info. Good luck!

[Woodsperson]

I had Marquis work with one horse. I had another horse that Marquis didn't work on (started getting worse during month 2 of treatment). we used Navigator with him and it worked.

[WillowRidgeJ]

Marquis worked for our horse, but it took 3 months with the 3rd month being a double dose. We also were giving 10,000 iu of E daily and did so for about a year. We had no side affects and he ate it in his food. Other meds he would not touch. Almost three years later with lots of initally slow recovery exercise, he is about 99% and can do anything you would expect a healthy 6 yr old to do. It is a long road back to normal, but worth it.

[Sarah612]

My boy was on Marquis last July/August for two months at normal dosage. He appears to be completely recovered! I hope your horse recovers quickly and fully!

[HoustonFarrier]

Our Clydesdale mare, who just foaled, was on double-dose Marquis for 2 months when she had it. Made a great recovery. She's not perfect, but a great broodmare.

Her brother, who also got it, is on his 3rd month of Marquis, he's made a nice recovery so far.

Steve

[Nilla Wafer]

for those of you with horses who have recovered using marquis, are they used for competition or anything like that? can a horse that is recovered from EPM return to jumping?

[Nilla Wafer]

Also - Lucy, how did it go with the Marquis?? I just started my horse on it last week...

[Gry2Yng]

moderator hasn't added me to the yahoo group, I think I signed up about 3 days ago. How long does it take?

[Apocalyptic Pony]

I know a mare who recovered from EPM (using Marquis) and returned to eventing at a fairly high level. :)

[Nilla Wafer]

I just signed up for the yahoo group too... we can compare notes on how long it takes to join. :)

Apocalyptic pony, that's great news about the mare.... that is very encouraging.
I found out about my horse last week and spent several days in tears!!! He is my first horse and only five years old!

[skyy]

My daughter's pony had EPM. He went quickly from being completely normal to not wanting to walk, assymetrical sweating, flunked the quick and dirty neuro test (tail pull, spin in circle, muzzle push, etc). Blood came back positive so we started Marquis. He made a 99% recovery. The only lingering symptom is that his muzzle is still a little crooked. He went back to his previous job (jumping 2' courses) with no problems.

[goodhors]

Our horse recovered from the EPM quite fast. We only did one 30day session. He was just slightly uncoordinated, really short tempered, not happy with his friends in the paddock. This is about 100% wrong for this horse, so we knew there was a problem. Very unlike his usual self.

At the end of the first 7days, there was a total turnaround in temperment, he appeared happy again! By the end of the 30 days, he was back to acting normal for him, and daughter started the riding again. Vet had said NO RIDING, not to stress horse in any way during treatment. Stressing him is what allows the stuff to spread.

His coordination was back to normal in another month. This was just VERY TINY movement problems, which we actually thought were age and wear, creeping up on him at first. Had always been wonderfully coordinated, but he was older, had a busy working life.

So now, 4 years later, he has no problems in his work or responses to rider or out driving.

Vet said we caught the problem VERY EARLY and that aided in his early treatment and recovery. Husband had only seen the sudden onset EPM and didn't believe our boy had EPM because it presented so differently. Sudden onset was always so severe they were stumbling, falling and horses were put down within a day or so.

Blood test said he carried the EPM, which is probably true of most pastured horses in MI. Vet also said that when they get stressed, that is when the EPM escapes the normal containments of healthy body, to cause problems. Horse had been hauled a lot, worked hard and stressed.

Vet said to go ahead with the Marquis treatment, the cost of spinal testing is very high and often wasted because contamination is so easy. For the price of the spinal tap to confirm EPM, we would pay less for the Marquis to fix him. He said we should be able to see a difference in horse in a week. It was true, he was getting better within the week, had new attitude.

Good luck with your horse and treatment. Yes the Marquis cost, but did the job well for us. I would use it again.

[MassageLady]

Dr. Cain in Union KY has a new treatment, very inexpensive and GUARANTEED to work. I have also found that a good immune booster will help the horse dramatically. While doing the marquis, the horse should be on something anyway to help him with the dead protozoa that will be in his system. I have had alot of success with my groundwork rehab therapy for epm. Please contact me if you need more help with your horse.

[MassageLady]

Dr. Cain in Union KY has a new treatment, very inexpensive and GUARANTEED to work. I have also found that a good immune booster will help the horse dramatically. While doing the marquis, the horse should be on something anyway to help him with the dead protozoa that will be in his system. I have had alot of success with my groundwork rehab therapy for epm. Please contact me if you need more help with your horse.
midwestnha.net

[00Jumper]

I had a mare get EPM. We picked up on it when she was sort of uncoordinated, lame, stopping at fences, etc. Generally she just was not acting anything like herself. Put her on the Marquis for 30 days and we saw a total turnaround. She went back to doing what she had been doing before EPM (3' hunters) for a while, but unfortunately she was also 16 and eventually the bigger fences just got to be too much for her old joints. :sadsmile: She showed 2'-2'6" up until she turned 21. Now she's happily retired with no sign of neurological issues other than a slight lack of coordination in her left hind when she's being spun in a tight circle on her neuro re-checks. :yes: I'd definitely recommend the product, at least to try - I found it was well worth the price.

[samtoney]

Has anyone had a personality change (in the horse) with epm. Just curious as to if it is common and if my boy will ever be the same. He seems more flighty, paranoid, etc. I have never had a problem catching him and the last few days he has been a bit skeptical of me. It seems as though he thinks i have a big oozy, gun, firecracker, or something to hurt him. I'm hopful that it is just the change in weather!!! Started the Marquis today.. i guess time will tell..Thanks for any insight!

[TrakeGirl]

for those of you with horses who have recovered using marquis, are they used for competition or anything like that? can a horse that is recovered from EPM return to jumping?

Hi Nilla - My hunter had EPM when he was 4. As others mentioned, it can take a while to recover. He got almost a full year off where he was almost constantly turned out - so he could learn how to compensate for any neuro deficeits without a rider on his back and it took about 8 months of that before he starting gaining muscle back in the atrophied areas. From year 5-6, we mostly lightly trail rode. He was 6 before we were riding "in training" again and 7 before we were showing again, low jumps (18" to 2ft).

Now he's 10 and we do A/O at 2'9-3'3.

He did one month at the regular dose of Marquis - relapsed 3 months later - and then did a month at the double dose, which did the trick.

[TrakeGirl]

Has anyone had a personality change (in the horse) with epm. Just curious as to if it is common and if my boy will ever be the same. He seems more flighty, paranoid, etc. I have never had a problem catching him and the last few days he has been a bit skeptical of me. It seems as though he thinks i have a big oozy, gun, firecracker, or something to hurt him. I'm hopful that it is just the change in weather!!! Started the Marquis today.. i guess time will tell..Thanks for any insight!

Absolutely!!! My horse was really, really out of character spooky when he had EPM and couldn't STAND to be groomed. Would kick whenever you tried to groom his hind end which he had never done before.

I think they must feel pretty weird - which is upsetting to them - and they don't quite know how to deal with it. It is like all this nervous, anxious energy gets built up in them. If it makes you feel any better - that was one of the first things that got better with my horse when using Marquis. By week 4, that frantic look in his eye had gone and his calm eye had returned.

[TrakeGirl]

[QUOTE=Nilla Wafer;4410922]I just signed up for the yahoo group too... we can compare notes on how long it takes to join. :)

The moderator is a fox hunter - lol - so she is usually pretty busy on these fall weekends. She'll get to you. :)

I'm an old member of that group - great group of people and very useful advice. :)

[Gry2Yng]

Cool. Still waiting, but looking forward to the info.

We did the neuro on Friday, pulled the titre. Should have results by Wed. Everything in the n exam could be attributed to sore stiffles. Did the injections, have a tube of Marquis in case things go sideways.

[Nilla Wafer]

hey, Gry2Yng, how did it go with your horse's titre? (Sp?) did you start on the marquis?

for those of you who have used marquis, have you ever used it only for one month? we will be finishing up one month of marquis next week, and i think my vet thinks it's enough and doesn't want to do another round....

[Nilla Wafer]

oh, also, i wanted to say that i'm now a member of the yahoo EPM group.... although i have a hard time figuring out how to read the yahoo group threads.