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EPM
Feb 13, 2006 0:05:01 GMT -5
Post by sandy on Feb 13, 2006 0:05:01 GMT -5
Is EPM a problem where you live? It's a BIG problem in our area. I've known many people with horses infected with it, as we are a very rural area and there are lots of opposums around here. I know my grain and hay supplies are safe, but I can't control opposums that may wander into the pasture and defecate. Does anyone know how long the organism lives outside the opposum? Does heat or cold kill it? We keep a live trap set at all times, right behind the barn, as we've seen opposums in the woods and field leading up to it. I've had them right in my yard, as well. Here's one I found on the counter in my potting shed. I keep the cat food on the counter and he found it. So far we've caught lots of raccoons in the live trap at the barn but not a possum. I think the coons get to the bait first. sandy
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EPM
Feb 14, 2006 21:29:56 GMT -5
Post by Marion on Feb 14, 2006 21:29:56 GMT -5
We have a horse that just got over EMP. I think it came from the hay we had to get out of the man's barn whom we got our hay from. It has taken over a year and a half to get back to 90%. He was running this week which is the first time since September of 2004. I know that the hay had been in the barn all summer and winter so I can't say how long it lives outside the possum.
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EPM
Feb 14, 2006 22:22:58 GMT -5
Post by sandy on Feb 14, 2006 22:22:58 GMT -5
Marion, I'm sorry you and your horse had to go through this! I was doing a bit of research on this and it seems that the virus doesn't really live that long outside the host. I wish I could remember how long it lived, and I can't find the page I was reading.
It's nearly impossible to keep a possum from wandering through the pasture and eliminating, so it's pretty difficult to protect horses from this. Possums can't get into my barn, nor can they get at my hay once it's baled and put up.
My son found a possum in his barn last week. By the time he got back with the shotgun it was gone. His barn is right next to my pasture.
I really do worry about this.
Sandy
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EPM
Feb 17, 2006 21:01:26 GMT -5
Post by Marion on Feb 17, 2006 21:01:26 GMT -5
My vet said that most horses get an immunity to it but when they are weak or stressed it can cause them to get sick from the virus. Our stallion is back to his old self. We had to mares delivered today and he pranced right up to them. He is starting to run more.
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