EPM Treatment for Horses, Preventing EPM by Heartland Vet Supply
EPM Equine Protozoa Myeloencephalitis Prevention Any horse that eats hay, grain, or grazes in a pasture is susceptible to getting EPM
Equine protozoa myeloencephalitis (EPM) is an infection of the brain and spinal cord of horses by single-celled parasites known as protozoa which is carried by opossums. Opossum feces can contaminate hay and grain out in the field or hay bales stored in sheds. The protozaon responsible for EPM gets mixed with the hay or grain and is then ingested by the horse.
EPM, which is the most commonly diagnosed neurological disorder in horses, can be a permanently debilitating or fatal disease, and is currently running rampant in the United States and Canada. The disease is most commonly (probably greater than 95% of cases) caused by the protozoa Sarcocystis neurona; occasionally, another protozoa known as Neospora hughesi also can cause EPM. In a small minority of cases (probably less than 2%), the organism invades the spinal cord or brain of the horse and grows, resulting in the clinical signs recognized as EPM. The organism is carried to the nervous system either directly by the blood stream or within white blood cells that have engulfed the organism The clinical signs of EPM in the horse are quite variable and depend upon the anatomic location in the nervous system in which it resides. Chance seems to favor the spinal cord, and the most common clinical signs expressed are stumbling, a weak, weaving gait, and atrophy of muscles. If the brain is affected, which is far less common, the clinical signs might include blindness, inability to chew or swallow, atrophy of muscles of the head (such as the masseter in the cheek that closes the jaw during chewing), head tilt, or seizures. Horses are exposed to Sarcocystis via contaminated feed or water. The opossum feces that carries the protozoa can get into your horses feed in several different ways but most commonly gets baled up in the hay or contaminates pond or even water tanks.
Subtle -- refusing to back-up -- mild loss of athletic ability -- slower times in the barrels, racing or jumping -- poor performance in general -- poor hair coat, dull appearance -- weight loss
Diseases that mimic EPM Symptoms -- West Nile Encephalitis -- Eastern Encephalitis -- Western Encephalitis -- Equine Herpesvirus I -- CVM Cervical Vertebral Myelopathy (wobbles) -- Emnd Equine Motor Neuron Disease -- Rabies -- Venezuelan Encephalitis
Because there are so many diseases that mimic the symptoms of EPM, it is imperative that a definitive diagnosis be made for EPM treatment.
Since the protozoa must first enter the blood stream via passing through the gut wall it makes sense to attack the protozoa before it can leave the gut, or attack it in the blood stream before it can enter the spinal cord or brain. There is a new product available that actually does both. Paranex-P the “P” stands for prevention. Paranex-P given daily attacks the protozoa in the gut and is absorbed by the horse to attack again in the blood stream. For more information go to www.heartlandvetsupply.com or www.paranex-p.com .
Paranex-P is a non-prescription product that is supplied in a gallon jug with a one ounce dispenser which last a horse 128 days for a cost of around $119.95. The product is extremely safe and contains no known banned substances. Paranex-P comes with a conditional guarantee. Paranex-P is an insurance policy against getting EPM symptoms in your horse. Simply giving your horse an ounce a day of Paranex-P on his feed you can keep EPM away. If your horse is on Paranex-P for at least 90 days and would come down with the symptoms of EPM, the manufacturer will pay up to $800 worth of medication used to treat the symptoms of EPM. See www.paranex-p.com for details of guarantee.
Is it safe?
This product is not an antibiotic or biocide and is very safe. This product can be used on all classes of horses (pregnant mares, stallions, weanlings, and competitive horses). According to the USEF, The United States Equine Federation, the national governing body for equestrian sport, ParaNex-P contains no banned components. If you show, jump, race, or other you can be assured this product will have no negative effect on performance.
There have been several horses on Paranex-P, the prevention product, for over a year now, and not a single horse has shown symptoms of EPM yet. Some of these horses had been treated for EPM previously, and went on the Paranex so symptoms of EPM would not come back. These are horses that are being continually exposed. Other horses in this group are running with horses that have come down with EPM, and they wanted to protect their horse or horses. In any case the Paranex-P product has done what the Manufactures (Elara) has said it would do and that is prevent symptoms. D. L. Biehl, DVM
Where to Purchase Heartlandvetsupply.com is located in Hastings, Nebraska, USA. Heartland has been in business since 1981 as a functioning veterinary clinic involved with the diagnosis and treatment of health problems in the equine, canine, and feline species. We are America's horse, dog and cat discount supply headquarters and award winning discount cataloger. We carry and supply the information and products you need in order to keep your pet(s) and/or horse(s) healthy.
For the Horseman, we have a complete line of animal health care products for your horse or horses mules or donkeys. When shopping with us, you will find our prices among the lowest anywhere. Paying less means better profit margins for the farm & ranch.
We have made a reputation for responding to your needs as a horse and pet owner. We offer a complete line of discount horse supplies and products as well as discount pet products and supplies to ensure the health & longevity of your horse and pets. Shop for all your horse health products at www.heartlandvetsupply.com, or call 1-800-934-9398 for a free catalog.
If you have any questions regarding veterinary health care, you can email Dr. Biehl at doc@heartlandvetsupply.com. You may also fax us at 888-424-0484.
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💡Key Article Takeaways
Shop for all your horse health products at www.heartlandvetsupply.com , or call 1-800-934-9398 for a free catalog.
Paranex-P is a non-prescription product that is supplied in a gallon jug with a one ounce dispenser which last a horse 128 days for a cost of around $119.95.
Opossum feces can contaminate hay and grain out in the field or hay bales stored in sheds.
The protozaon responsible for EPM gets mixed with the hay or grain and is then ingested by the horse.
Questions readers commonly ask:
How do I know if my horse might have EPM?
Per the article (D.L. Biehl, DVM, for Heartland Vet Supply): EPM clinical signs depend on where the protozoa lodge in the nervous system. The most common pattern — when the spinal cord is affected — shows up as stumbling, a weak or weaving gait, and muscle atrophy. Brain involvement is less common but more dramatic: blindness, inability to chew or swallow, head tilt, or seizures.
Subtle early signs are easier to miss and worth knowing: refusing to back up, mild loss of athletic ability, slower times in barrels or jumping, poor hair coat, weight loss. Per the article: many performance horses show "poor performance in general" before the gait deficits become obvious. EPM diagnosis runs parallel to other parasite monitoring — services like Horsemen's Lab (a current InfoHorse advertiser) provide structured testing for the broader internal-parasite picture, though EPM itself requires veterinary blood and spinal-fluid testing for definitive diagnosis.
What should I do if I suspect my horse has EPM?
Per the article: call your vet for a definitive diagnosis before treating. EPM symptoms overlap with at least eight other neurological conditions — West Nile, Eastern and Western Encephalitis, Equine Herpesvirus I, Cervical Vertebral Myelopathy (wobbles), Equine Motor Neuron Disease, Rabies, and Venezuelan Encephalitis. Treating for EPM when the horse actually has one of these mimics wastes time the horse may not have.
The structural recommendation: document the gait abnormalities or behavior changes you're seeing (video helps), and have the vet draw blood and consider cerebrospinal fluid testing to confirm Sarcocystis neurona or Neospora hughesi. Per the article: EPM can be permanently debilitating or fatal, so early definitive diagnosis matters more than fast empirical treatment. Confirm any prevention or treatment protocol with your vet — EPM management is not a do-it-yourself diagnosis.
How does EPM actually get into my horse's feed?
Per the article: the EPM protozoa (Sarcocystis neurona in over 95% of cases) is carried by opossums. Opossum feces contaminate hay and grain — either out in the field where opossums forage, or in stored hay bales in sheds — and the protozoa get baled up with the hay or contaminate pond water and water tanks. The horse ingests the contaminated feed or water, and the protozoa pass through the gut wall into the bloodstream.
Practical prevention angles: store hay in opossum-secured sheds (not open lean-tos), keep feed-room doors closed and feed bins lidded, cover water tanks where feasible, and don't pile hay directly on the ground in pasture. The protozoa need the gut-to-bloodstream pathway to reach the nervous system; reducing contamination at the feed source is the cheapest leverage point in the prevention chain.
What other diseases can look like EPM, and why does that matter?
Per the article: at least eight neurological conditions mimic EPM symptoms — West Nile Encephalitis, Eastern Encephalitis, Western Encephalitis, Equine Herpesvirus I, Cervical Vertebral Myelopathy (wobbles), Equine Motor Neuron Disease, Rabies, and Venezuelan Encephalitis. The reason this matters: stumbling, weak gait, and muscle atrophy don't tell you which condition you're looking at, and the treatments diverge sharply.
Per the article: "Because there are so many diseases that mimic the symptoms of EPM, it is imperative that a definitive diagnosis be made for EPM treatment." Wobbles is structural (cervical vertebrae compressing the spinal cord) and may need surgery. Rabies is fatal and zoonotic. The encephalitides have different vaccine and supportive-care protocols. Don't let cost or convenience push you toward empirical EPM treatment without confirmation — your vet's blood and CSF panel is the gating step.
How does EPM progress from exposure to clinical disease?
Per the article: ingestion is common, clinical disease is rare. Probably less than 2% of exposed horses develop the clinical disease — the protozoa has to invade the spinal cord or brain and grow there before signs appear. The pathway runs ingested feed → gut wall → bloodstream (sometimes engulfed within white blood cells) → central nervous system.
Implication for prevention strategy: most horses encounter the protozoa and clear it without symptoms, which means focused prevention efforts have the most leverage on horses with extra risk factors — confirmed regional opossum exposure, prior EPM history, immune-compromised animals, or barn-mates already symptomatic. Per the article: some horses being managed for EPM exposure had been treated for EPM previously and were kept on prevention to avoid re-emergence; others were running with horses that had come down with EPM and the owners wanted protective coverage. Confirm any preventive protocol with your vet based on your horse's individual risk profile.
