a silly question grass sickness??

[donablue]

i know this may sound daft but ive just heard that a horse of my friend of a friend has died of grass sickness ive seen pictures of others that has had it how do they get it?

 

[Sal_E]

There's no definitive answer to that yet - they're still trying to fully under the disease... There's a theory that it could be in the earth ('botu' something isn't it?) as certain geographical areas seem to be more prone to it, but that's not be proven definitively to the best of my knowledge...

 

[ajn1610]

Not something I've had experience of (thank god) but as far as I am aware it is one of those things no one is too sure about. Grass sickness happens in clusters in certain areas/fields and is thought to be down to bacteria present in those areas. But why certain horses get sick and others don't is a bit of a mystery. There is bound to be someone on here with more up to date knowledge than me, try posting on Veterinary.

 

[SSM]

http://www.grasssickness.org.uk/

 

[donablue]

what a lovely stroy very sad about the others though ... hmm it is a strnge one indeed ... thanks for the replies

 

[jinxy]

my friend had to make the difficult decision to have her horse pts after he became ill from grass sickness as they just couldn't do anything else for him. She was and still is absolutely heartbroken. It was so upsetting.

 

[donablue]

its devastating loosing an animal under all circumstances hugs for her xxx

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

There are quite a few risk factors but the current theory is def to do with botulism in the soil. Scotland, esp NE is the highest risk although it occurs everywhere. Having just moved to NE Scotland Im paranoid about it esp as horsie 1 got ill 6 weeks after coming up here and they thought it might be GS - thankfully not. Neighbour has lost a horse to it tho.

It is a terrible condition as it comes on so suddenly, is more likely in younger animals and has such a (90%+) mortality rate.

Risk factors include certain weather patterns (common up here), esp spring and autumn, clover rich grass, acidic soil esp with bare patches, harrowing poos instead of poo picking, 24x7 turnout (time eating hay gives a break from exposure to the toxins), soil disturbance and some others.

So my babies arent out 24x7 despite having the land to do it, I poo pick daily, make sure they have fresh pasture so they dont have to eat round the molehilly bits and I pray!

 

[nuffield]

Its a terrible disease. I lost 3 arabs some 6 years ago. Devastating.

 

[Donkeymad]

I lost my first wondeful pony to GS, it is a horrific disease. I have a friend who had a youngster get chronic GS and he has made an amazing and full recovery, sadly 90% die.

 

[Twigben]

I lost my beautiful TB to this horrid disease 2 years ago. She had the acute form, it was truely horrible and so so quick - i barely had time to say goodbye - i saw her at 6am as normal and by 10pm she was dead. There were others in the field next door and none of them were affected, they just dont know as yet what the exact cause is - could be bacteria in the soil, deficiency of minerals, clover etc etc. No real way to prevent against it - just need to be aware and vigilant for the signs and steer clear from any pasture that has been affected.