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My Horse has EPM & is Spiraling Downward - UPDATE Post 63 (Tube is Out, Can't Eat)

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  • #61
    Originally posted by JackieBlue View Post
    Are you referring to the decoquinoate and levamisole cocktail that Dr. Ellison recommends? Levamisole will perk any horse up from the first dose.
    Yes, the Levamisole worked wonders for my friend's horse. Marquis didn't touch it.

    Comment

    • #62
      Originally posted by karasha View Post
      Everyone cross their fingers! Tomorrow we're taking him off the feeding tube to see if he will eat and drink on his own.
      I think it would be better to leave it in for a while. Is the feeding tube coming out near his withers? Feedings tubes, in my experience, have worked well with cats and dogs for weeks at a time. (Feeding tubes looked like telescopes coming up from a submarine with a stopper on the top.) Never had to do it with a horse, but would if I had to. Keeps the food and liquids in the system when they will not eat. Gives them a chance to let meds work without worrying about dehydrating and colic.

      He can survive this. Keep going to visit him as often as you can. He won't give up if he knows you are coming to visit him daily.

      Good luck. It's always something with horses. Colic, founder, EPM, etc. For such big animals, they are extremely delicate.

      Comment

      • Original Poster
        #63
        We took the feeding tube out. Sadly, he is unable to sustain himself. He tries to drink water and eat food, yet, he cannot swallow it. He is visibly frustrated about it. Our vet feels that he has permanent neuro damage that has effected his ability to swallow. He hasn't made any other improvements and has just kind of plateaued. His temperature is steady, yet he still leans and circles (but slower than before).



        Originally posted by cloudyandcallie View Post
        I think it would be better to leave it in for a while. Is the feeding tube coming out near his withers? Feedings tubes, in my experience, have worked well with cats and dogs for weeks at a time. (Feeding tubes looked like telescopes coming up from a submarine with a stopper on the top.) Never had to do it with a horse, but would if I had to. Keeps the food and liquids in the system when they will not eat. Gives them a chance to let meds work without worrying about dehydrating and colic.

        He can survive this. Keep going to visit him as often as you can. He won't give up if he knows you are coming to visit him daily.

        Good luck. It's always something with horses. Colic, founder, EPM, etc. For such big animals, they are extremely delicate.
        We took the tube out because he's had it in for quite a few days. We needed to see if he had made any sort of progress neurologically and if he can at least self sustain himself.

        Yes, for such big animals they are very fragile... mentally and physically.

        Comment

        • #64
          I'm sorry. I watched my best friend spial downhill from neuro deficits that eventually he died from. My guy had cervical arthritis and while never lost the ability to swallow it was frustrating to watch the change. I know what you are going through.

          Comment

          • #65
            Karasha - SO sorry to hear that your guy is not doing well; sending hugs and moral support your way.
            I have a 22 yr old w/ cervical arthritis, 3 joints. Responding well to first injections, and neuro signs are gone, but reading your postings and that from CAH makes me just worry about how I will deal with things when they catch up to him.....UGH, its so hard sometimes.
            We don't get less brave; we get a bigger sense of self-preservation........

            Comment

            • #66
              You have a PM.

              You've done your best. And kept him when others would have cast him off when he wasn't safe to ride.

              Comment

              • #67
                I'm so very sorry. EPM is such a horrible and devastating disease.

                Comment

                • #68
                  ((((((((HHHUUUGGGSSS))))))))
                  HAS provides hospital care to 340,000 people in Haiti's Artibonite Valley 24/7/365/earthquake/cholera/whatever.
                  www.hashaiti.org blog:http://hashaiti.org/blog

                  Comment

                  • #69
                    Hugs...you have really given him a fighting chance. Jingles for a sudden improvement.

                    Comment

                    • #70
                      Make him comfortable, take him home, hold it together till it's over. Then have a good cry.

                      There's something awfully tragic about holding any of our animals while they are being put down. Have your vet use ketamine to make it easier on your horse. BTDT too many times before.

                      You've done all you can do. If it had not been this, it could have been colic or something else. Horses are just big huge heart-touching animals who give us so much joy that when they get so sick, we are devastated. And we always blame outselves for not being able to save them.

                      Do not beat yourself up over this. The protozoan have done the damage to his nerves and muscles. Probably the paralysis of the facial muscles that Dr. Sam listed on the signs of EPM at our first barn is the cause of his being unable to eat.

                      Comment

                      • #71
                        I agree with Cloudy and Callie. Sometimes you reach the point where you have done all you can do. It is time for them to stop suffering. My 2 experiences with ketamine before euthanasia were much easier than our other experiences. I went through this 5 years ago and was terrified my horse would have fear or pain during euthanasia, as one of our horses years ago panicked and bolted during euthanasia. This time,the vet sedated with detomidine and then put him under anesthesia with ketamine. Seeing all of the pain leave my horse's face and seeing him breathing easily for the first time in 2 months, made me sure it was time to put him down. Then, while my horse was under anesthesia, the vet injected the barbiturate that causes death. Ketamine adds some cost to the euthanasia, but it helped me stop worrying that he might suffer.

                        I'm sorry you are going through this. It is not easy.

                        Comment

                        • #72
                          I'm so very sorry.....

                          Be kind to yourself and may you have peace in your heart that you did absolutely everything you possibly could. He'll tell you that when you meet again one day.
                          "A lie doesn't become truth, wrong doesn't become right, and evil doesn't become good, just because it's accepted by a majority." Rick Warren

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                          • #73
                            Hugs. I am so, so sorry. You have been with him every step of the way. He couldn't ask for better. More hugs.

                            Comment

                            • #74
                              I am so sorry to hear this.

                              Comment

                              • #75
                                Jingles & AO ~ ((hugs)) and tears & thoughts and prayers ~

                                Jingles & AO ~ ((HUGS)) and tears and thoughts and prayers ~

                                and more Jingles ~
                                Zu Zu Bailey " IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE ! "

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                                • #76
                                  Prayers and many jingles. I am so sorry you are going through this.
                                  Proud mother to Matt, a 18 year-old TB gelding.

                                  FOREVER

                                  Comment

                                  • #77
                                    You have done much more than many people would have. Some times things were just not meant to be. A peaceful passing is a loving gift. {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}

                                    Comment

                                    • #78
                                      I am so sorry.
                                      www.ctannerjensen.com
                                      http://ctannerjensen.blogspot.com/
                                      Equine Art capturing the essence of the grace,strength, and beauty of the Sport Horse."

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                                      • #79
                                        Hugs... hoping for a miracle, but if not it may be time to let go. I lost my beloved mare to what we believe was EPM. It's not fun. HUGS!!!
                                        http://www.leakycreek.com/
                                        http://leakycreek.wordpress.com/ Rainbows & Mourning Doves Blog
                                        John P. Smith II 1973-2009 Love Always
                                        Father, Husband, Friend, Firefighter- Cancer Sucks- Cure Melanoma

                                        Comment

                                        • #80
                                          And more jingles....Basque is a three-time treated EPM horse, who still gets massive doses of Vitamin E 9 years later.

                                          Texas sized jingles, too!

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