assuan
Well-Known Member
our youngster had surgery at 2am, they suspect grass sickness, will get results of biopsy either later or tomorrow - he's not even 2 years old yet
:( grass sick
- Thread starter assuan
- Start date
our youngster had surgery at 2am, they suspect grass sickness, will get results of biopsy either later or tomorrow - he's not even 2 years old yet
BorgRae
Well-Known Member
Oh no!! Sending loads of ((((hugs)))) and healing vibes x
Black_Horse_White
Well-Known Member
So sorry, hope the he pulls through. Sending (((vibes))) & hugs.
MiCsarah
Well-Known Member
Really hope he pulls through
lachlanandmarcus
Well-Known Member
Im so so sorry to hear this. Everything crossed for your youngster and so sorry this evil curse has been visited on you.
As the owner of a horse who the vet thought had GS (thank God it turned out not to be and he recovered), I know how being told the words feel - sick, just sick to the pit of your stomach.
As the owner of a horse who the vet thought had GS (thank God it turned out not to be and he recovered), I know how being told the words feel - sick, just sick to the pit of your stomach.
assuan
Well-Known Member
claireandnadia
Well-Known Member
I've been feeling like I'm going to throw up all day since I got the text :-(
I hope hope hope hope it's not GS but all I keep thinking is a know a lovely little pony who did fight it.
I hope hope hope hope it's not GS but all I keep thinking is a know a lovely little pony who did fight it.
ischa
Well-Known Member
I know how you fill ,
My filly at the beginning of the year went from a happy young lady to a skinny , unhappy lady
And also had a bout of colic
I got vet out , we both discussed the signs weight loss and colic
That could of been from grass sickness
The vet told me to wait and see if she developed patches from sweating etc
Luckly she has picked up weight and generally herself again
But I do know what you are going through with waiting etc fingers crossed for
You and youngster
My filly at the beginning of the year went from a happy young lady to a skinny , unhappy lady
And also had a bout of colic
I got vet out , we both discussed the signs weight loss and colic
That could of been from grass sickness
The vet told me to wait and see if she developed patches from sweating etc
Luckly she has picked up weight and generally herself again
But I do know what you are going through with waiting etc fingers crossed for
You and youngster
scarymare
Well-Known Member
I really hope not. You are in Berkshire and your filly is young for grass sickness (not at the 3 year old spike). Its rife up her in NE Scotland (far higher than anywhere else). I can't believe they can't isolate the cause, given all of the research, geographical evidence etc.
Very best of luck.
Very best of luck.
assuan
Well-Known Member
Went to see him in hospital last night, before the vet come to speak to us she contacted new marketing for an update and they faxed the results of the biopsy. ... much to our relief, no signs of grass sick.
They're going to do more tests today to try and find the problem, but have ruled out the worst now, they're checking for tapeworm now. Not nice, but easily fixed. Will be annoying though as he's fully wormed.
I must admit, I nearly cried with relief last night.
Thank you all for your kind comments and thoughts
They're going to do more tests today to try and find the problem, but have ruled out the worst now, they're checking for tapeworm now. Not nice, but easily fixed. Will be annoying though as he's fully wormed.
I must admit, I nearly cried with relief last night.
Thank you all for your kind comments and thoughts
charlie76
Well-Known Member
What are the symptoms? I am in Berkshire and we have had what was believed to be Atypical Myopathy.
assuan
Well-Known Member
Ultrasound and surgery showed a section of small intestine was extended and not moving.
Symptoms were just normal colic signs
Symptoms were just normal colic signs
lachlanandmarcus
Well-Known Member
Assuan my horse's symptoms were loss of weight, stopping eating, very depressed, not much drinking. Throat also swollen. He had a history of colic and also a recurring ME-like virus causing low white cell counts etc. He also has a simply massive spleen. Hes 17 hands IDxTB and was 14 when this happened
We live in the mega high risk area in NE Scotland and he had recently been moved there on 550 mile journey which also raised the risk. A neighbour has lost a horse to GS, he was taken to the Dick Vet school in Edinburgh but had to be PTS shortly after arrival.
Vet put a tube via nostril all the way in with the camera etc. Nothing except for impaction and poss choke (which may have been the initial trigger). Horse didnt go on to develop nasal discharge of food or sweating, was very dull rather than actively distressed. Only downside of the tube/nostril was that 17 hander had nosebleed during this and sprayed blood all over the stable and his weeping owner (me) :-O
It took him a few months to get better but he is now 18 and is fat and glossy.
Very very pleased to hear yours is probably not GS too now - anything is better than GS to be honest!!
We live in the mega high risk area in NE Scotland and he had recently been moved there on 550 mile journey which also raised the risk. A neighbour has lost a horse to GS, he was taken to the Dick Vet school in Edinburgh but had to be PTS shortly after arrival.
Vet put a tube via nostril all the way in with the camera etc. Nothing except for impaction and poss choke (which may have been the initial trigger). Horse didnt go on to develop nasal discharge of food or sweating, was very dull rather than actively distressed. Only downside of the tube/nostril was that 17 hander had nosebleed during this and sprayed blood all over the stable and his weeping owner (me) :-O
It took him a few months to get better but he is now 18 and is fat and glossy.
Very very pleased to hear yours is probably not GS too now - anything is better than GS to be honest!!
assuan
Well-Known Member
QUICK UPDATE:
Spoken to the vet at hospital this morning, taken another blood, but as long as they are happy with it, he can come home tonight! Fingers crossed. Hopefully he'll feel a little happier when he gets home, was looking a bit depressed last night, bless him. Although, he has got a really cute little filly in the stable next door, might try and sneak her away too
Spoken to the vet at hospital this morning, taken another blood, but as long as they are happy with it, he can come home tonight! Fingers crossed. Hopefully he'll feel a little happier when he gets home, was looking a bit depressed last night, bless him. Although, he has got a really cute little filly in the stable next door, might try and sneak her away too
Cluck
Well-Known Member
Glad to hear that your horse is ok.
What is the current understanding on causes and preventative measures for GS.
I honestly can't remember it being that much of a problem 15 years ago and it's not something I hear about in the US at all.
What is the current understanding on causes and preventative measures for GS.
I honestly can't remember it being that much of a problem 15 years ago and it's not something I hear about in the US at all.
lachlanandmarcus
Well-Known Member
The best place to look on grass sickness is here
http://www.grasssickness.org.uk/egsf-page.aspx?pageID=5
They think there is a link to some kind of soil botulism.
Highest risk scenario would be
young horse
acid soil
disturbed soil (eg harrowed, mole hills)
certain weather conditions stressing the grass (see the website above for the specific temp pattern)
horses who live out 24/7 (eating something other than grass for a portion of each 24 hours helps to prevent it)
The acidic thin disturbed soil and the weather patterns are prevalent in NE Scotland which is perhaps why we have the worst prevalence.
I have 40 acres here but my horses do not live out 24/7 purely because of the GS risk. Neither, after losing a horse to GS, do my neighbours.
http://www.grasssickness.org.uk/egsf-page.aspx?pageID=5
They think there is a link to some kind of soil botulism.
Highest risk scenario would be
young horse
acid soil
disturbed soil (eg harrowed, mole hills)
certain weather conditions stressing the grass (see the website above for the specific temp pattern)
horses who live out 24/7 (eating something other than grass for a portion of each 24 hours helps to prevent it)
The acidic thin disturbed soil and the weather patterns are prevalent in NE Scotland which is perhaps why we have the worst prevalence.
I have 40 acres here but my horses do not live out 24/7 purely because of the GS risk. Neither, after losing a horse to GS, do my neighbours.