My horse just completed Marquis treatment for EPM. What now?

Question

The vet said he could relapse; or be fine. The medication may not have destroyed all the protozoa. If he relapses I cannot afford to continue with Marquis as it is way too expensive. Anyone out there have experience with treating a horse with Marquis for EPM?

Answer 1

There is actually another medication you can give following completion of the Marquis. I have to email my friend and ask her what it's called, but I know it's much cheaper than the Marquis, and easier to give to your horse. Her horse did I think 3 months of Marquis, and he's now been on this stuff for 6 weeks. I'll get back to you with the name of it . . .

What Azeri said, the sulfadiazine & pyrimethamine suspension, I'm pretty sure that's what he's on. But we didn;t get Rebalance - we ordered it from FarmVet and just got the generic suspension, which I *think* is cheaper. The only thing is that you need to have your vet get the proper dosage for your horse. And have your horse checked by a vet 60 days into it, b/c it has been known to cause anemia in some horses. And all the suggestions Azeri had were good. In addition, my friend's horse is on extra Vitamin E and selenium supplements. Folic acid (which is highly concentrated in grass and alfalfa) is good for them. And you should start your horse on an exercise program to build his muscles and his immune system strength.

Answer 2

Marquis IS really expensive.  Rebalance (sulfadiazine & pyrimethamine) is one of the other drugs, it was the first one they came out with, I believe. There's also Navigator (Nitazoxanide).  If he's not showing clinical signs any more (and even if he is) it's important that he's getting the right nutrition to strengthen his immune system.  Is he on good pasture?  That's the best, if he's on hay, you should have it analyzed to see what he may need added to his diet.  Ground flaxseed is a good Omega-3 source, and we also were giving a b-vitamin concoction our vet supplied.  Sorry, can't remember the name.  Ask your vet.  If he's showing a lot of severe clinical signs, esp ataxia, I'm not sure what else to tell you.  The thoroughgbreds (racehorses) are being given Marquis and Navigator simultaneously at the first sign and many of them are going on to recover.  But it's very expensive.  The horses are worth 10's to hundreds of thousands of dollars, so it's worth it to the owners, who, obviously can afford it.  Doesn't seem fair.  Best of luck.  Hope someone has some more, recent info that will help.

You might want to talk to a vet who specializes in nutrition, if you have one in you area.  Almost all horses are exposed to the sarcocystis neurona protozoa that is responsible, but only those with a compromised immune system actually become diseased or symptomatic.

EDIT re the first poster's answer - - I forgot the E and Selenium - important.  Also the exercise.  Our horse was too ataxic to be safely exercised with arider, but he was turned out 24/7 and was pretty acitve.