Worm Aneurysms
"WORM ANEURYSMS" A super common lameness in horses!
I've had so many sessions where a client has a mystery lameness and has spent $1,000's on diagnostic tests only to be told "We don't know what's wrong.”
This is a classic osteo find that determines the lameness in 1 minute, I've successfully treated thousands of cases- here’s what it is and how to treat it, and is a classic example of why energetic melding Osteopathic techniques dominate direct only work. For energetic melding go to previous post or go to https://youtu.be/7YHt3AZWdWY
"Equine Worm Aneurysms", or "Verminous Arteriosus" as it is now called, is a common lameness in horses. It was named by DVM surgeons and is a common cause of death in horses. It is an infection causing lesions in the wall of the cranial mesentery artery- attributed to migrating Strongylus vulgaris larvae.
Large strongyle larvae infect the arteries of the large intestine, and usually inhabit only distal, small arterioles. Their larval stage is several months to a yearlong- where they feed, grow, and then reenter the LI and molt into adults.
The focal point is the cranial mesentery artery which branches right from the aorta at L2/L3 just before the aorta bifurcates. Strongyles migrate up from distal LI (mainly cecum) arterioles, and into the larger artery which is the main source for the colon-the cranial mesentery artery. Here in stage 1 and 2 they nest in, feed, infect, and I believe communicate with other strongyles and invite them to the party.
They create severe mesentery artery inflammation which causes distal colon issues, and will normally significantly inflame the right diaphragm, right kidney/ureter, right ovary in mares, ICV, cecum, vena cava, and T18-L4.
Additionally, it will usually impinge the right femoral nerve which absolutely sets the horse up for stifle issues. At stage three strongyles migrate further into the vertebral arteries and probably the spinal nerve roots, normally from T1 to L5, but in severe cases cranially to T8. This creates a dorsal/upward push from below which causes vertebrae to be stuck in flexion and rotated to the left. This is known as “Roached Back”.
I now will say that after working with SO MANY cases, that a roached lumbar spine is often a Worm Aneurysm until proven otherwise. I have not seen a roach back without a worm aneurysm in a long time. These cannot be resolved with chiropractic alone.
Because the infection pushes/inflames from the right, it causes the vertebrae to lift and rotate to the left. I rarely see roached back where the spine is rotated to the right, thus, the evidence points to worm aneurysms as the primary causal factor in roached back.
In some cases, necroscopy shows a ruptured cranial mesenteric artery as the cause of death and indeed equine surgeons named this condition decades ago.
Worm Aneurysms are quite common and are not routinely diagnosed by veterinarians, yet are a leading cause of sacral, ilial, stifle and hock complications in horses. This is a classic case of vascular/visceral/somatic dominance.
The bigger issue is why, what conditions, diet, environment lead to this over growth and lack of immune function. I observe degrees of worm aneurysms in almost all diaphragm torsions of significant duration. Heat and inflammation attract parasites. Diaphragm torsion patterns will certainly set the stage for this, with proximal aorta spasms, acidosis of the LI, right kidney/ureter spams etc. Neural toxicity, stress, leaky gut, and basic malnutrition will create vulnerability as well.
The Celiac Axis (and it’s branches) and the Cranial Mesenteric (and it’s branches) showing thrombosis and thickening of arterial walls due to Strongylus Vulgaris larval migrations.
Image courtesy of Dr. Owen Slocombe and Merial Inc.
Worm Aneurysm Treatment Protocol
The treatment protocol described below comes from clinical practice on thousands of cases. It involved trial and error and I'm continually looking for more efficient, less invasive treatment.
Many of these specific cases involved ultrasonography assessment by leading veterinarians and equine surgeons pre and post treatment, pre and post metabolic blood inflammatory markers, and basic changes in physical mobility.
I run the skeptic hard and that is perhaps the only good thing I learned from growing up around an array of MD’s. What is most called for now in this time is that you trust your heart, develop authentic discernment and THEN VERIFY.
Before we go into the specifics of what has been effective over the years in treating these parasitic blood infections, I think it's relevant that we look at a few causative factors or why there's such a proliferation of this condition.
Doctor Regan Golob has said for years that mineral deficiency, specifically copper, is causative of parasite issues. Mineral deficiencies are epidemic and certainly tied to big agricultural practices where they do not rebuild soil. Trace mineral supplementation is a must in the modern era.
I primarily focus on neuro toxicity in the environment, especially the diet as a major contributor to this issue. Specifically, the neurotoxin glyphosate which has created an epidemic in the last 11 to 12 years of leaky gut, diaphragm spasms cranial inflammation and that all leads to metabolic syndrome.
Inflamed/ leaky tight junctions of the large intestine is a primary factor. Parasites are attracted to inflammation and feed on the symptomology that exists there.
I often see it as major issues at specific facilities especially out in the western United States if they are around any wineries and exposed to heavy metals.
Riding styles and saddle fit can also be causative.
We should also look to focus on what the energy of parasite is- for it's an internal boundary problem. I commonly see parasite issues coinciding in the horse with their owner- suggesting and the energetic mirror. So, at this level of healing, one must ask and go into the tissue and get a glimpse of what the human is allowing in-that does not serve them.
Treatment
The most efficacious treatment and outcomes are as follows:
Mobilize mesenteric artery at site of aneurysm
Repeated findings are if the tissues involved are rebalanced osteopathically, most worm aneurysms will resolve with a 4-5-day treatment of fenbendazole at double dose (57gdepending upon weight).
If Fenbendazole is administered before treatment, it will need to be done again. Fenbendazole at this dose/duration is usually not acutely toxic and horses do well with it unlike moxidectin. I also see the need for 4-5 ounces of aloe vera liquid to be used with fenbendazole. However, the need for a natural yet effective treatment is still desirable.
I found by trial and error that if one treats a worm aneurysm chemically or any other method before rebalancing the Cranial mesenteric artery, the results are minimal. By word of mouth, many of my clients would run a Panacur Power Pak or Moxidectin wormer treatment before I worked on their horses, and I saw very little change.
However, If I mobilized this artery and little else (not ideal) and then a Power Pak fenbendazole treatment ensued results were generally excellent depending upon level of severity and other metabolic dysregulation.
This is an osteo vascular skill pioneered by the infamous Frank Lowen and is an extension of the original Osteopathic tenets brought in by Andrew Stihl. I often guide even foundation students to clear this area as soon as they start to meld into tissue deeply.
I have a student who is a prominent DVM in Florida who learned how to clear the mesenteric artery in a craniosacral class, she came back for Osteo 1 and stated that she treated numerous worm aneurysms in her practice and found ultrasonography before and after simple mesenteric mobilization to be quite profound and this is within minutes.
Until you learn to meld into tissue or find a qualified osteopathic practitioner that can truly do vascular work, try putting your left hand on the horse’s heart, and your right hand just over the right side of the spine at L2/3. Now intend to connect the heart to CM artery and allow the body to assist. Stay with it until crescendo.
I have found stage 1 worm aneurysms resolve with just tissue mobilization and no medication.
Worm Eradication specifically Fenbendazole:
First day single dose (as a cautionary measure to avoid excessive die off in adult worms);
Days 2-5 double dose fenbendazole with 4-5 ounces aloe vera liquid;
Any worm treatment, chemical, herbal, homeopathic, vibrational should be done 4 days either side of the full moon (9day window)! This is not just ancestral wisdom, there are now invitro studies providing the vulnerability of all verminous animals at the lunar cycle. This is true for gut parasites, protozoa and spirochete infections as well. Ask anyone who’s had Lymes Disease and what you’ll find is around the full moon their symptoms would be excruciating if they were on any anti-microbial as the die off metabolites are neural toxic.
NOTE: The effectiveness of Panacur Power Pak/Safeguard Pak- both fenbendazole products from Merck, has become minimal. I thought it was because clients were not following through with treatment. My veterinary colleagues have found that Merck changed the binder in their paste products and they were seeing reduced efficacy in adult worms as well.
So what’s available for fenbendazole OTC:
Anthelcide EQ Oxibendazole Paste a good chemical alternative same dosage strategy.
Safeguard Dewormer Liquid for Cattle by Merck. This is Fenbendazole without the paste, is cheaper and easier to administer. Dosage is usually 1mg liquid/g fenbendazole, so a double dose @57g fenbendazole is equivalent to 57 ml liquid.
In Conclusion, my colleagues and myself are currently working on alternative less invasive treatments. Specifically, better herbal combinations and under the recommendation of a skilled Homeopathic Doc in the Netherlands the remedy CINA 6c seems promising.
But as always results are key and “Proofs In the Puddin”.