Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is often referred to as the “master of disguise” because it can look like many other neurological diseases or even obscure lameness. This is why it is critical to have your veterinarian conduct a thorough physical and neurological exam and appropriate diagnostic work up to confirm EPM. Treating without a diagnosis can be frustrating. If you’re concerned about EPM, talk to your veterinarian and keep the following risk factors in mind: • Mature horses are more commonly affected than very young horses • There is a higher incidence among horses used for racing, western performance and other strenuous activities • Events such as long-distance transportation, concurrent…

Vaccination may be the furthest thing from your mind this fall, but the rigors of travel, training and performance may be taking a toll on your horse, lowering his ability to fend off illness. Performance horses traveling and in contact with many different horses and environments will likely need fall booster vaccinations. These vaccinations are administered to help prevent highly contagious diseases such as equine influenza virus and equine herpesvirus. Late summer and fall is also prime mosquito season, which means an increased risk of our horses contracting serious and often fatal diseases like Eastern and Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE, WEE), and West Nile virus (WNV), which are transmitted by…

It depends. While summer is generally not a peak parasite transmission time in many parts of the country, some horses may require a more aggressive schedule that includes deworming during the summer. The key is to work with your veterinarian to conduct fecal tests to determine your horse’s shedding status (how much and of which parasites he is shedding), then customize the deworming protocol. Low egg shedders typically require only two dewormings a year, whereas high shedders may require up to six treatments. General deworming tips to keep in mind: – Most deworming treatments should be administered during periods of parasite transmission and not during cold winters or hot, dry…