Grass sickness diagnosis - PLEASE HELP

kirstinw55

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Hi all - been a while since I have been on this but know there is often quality advice and right now I am panicking and scared! We bought my new horse on sunday and she arrived on Tuesday - a few things seemed odd with her on tueday night so we got the vet out on wednesday who wasn't concerned. However things were definitely off this afternoon and we have had vet back out who has diagnosed grass sickness. At the minute Summer is bright and interested in eating and we have been given all the advice and have read up as much as we can. We are doing the obvious - glucose shots, sloppy feeds, parrifin, yeast but would really appreciate some personal tips and advice.
Many thanks
 
Really sorry to hear the diagnosis. Queenbee has unfortunately been through this and has a wealth of information at her fingertips especially on feeds etc. I am sure she would be happy to help if you pm her. Keeping everything crossed for you.
 
It doesn't sounds like grass sickness?
The major symptom (after dramatic weight loss) is not wanting to eat? And a new horse just arrived doesnt fit the usual background. And the very fact she's still alive nearly a week later without very intensive nursing is odd.
It's rare outside Scotland so maybe the diagnosis is wrong? Fingers crossed it is as it's a horrible diaease.
 
Newly arrived horse could fit as stress eg of travel can trigger, tho it would be unusual. I can only assume it is chronic GS not acute (would prob not be alive now if acute), but I too have some doubts re appetite.

OP my vets initially thought poss GS with my chap a few years back and it turned out not to be but instead a combo of choke and colic. Might be worth considering (ESP as would be better outlook if so ).
 
Newly arrived horse could fit as stress eg of travel can trigger, tho it would be unusual. I can only assume it is chronic GS not acute (would prob not be alive now if acute), but I too have some doubts re appetite.

OP my vets initially thought poss GS with my chap a few years back and it turned out not to be but instead a combo of choke and colic. Might be worth considering (ESP as would be better outlook if so ).

My friends mare had GS. She went downhill so fast - no eating hard feed. Buying different feeds trying anything to get her to eat. She was very close to loosing her. She stayed up the yard many nights,it was on one of these nights she studied her and saw she could not eat off the ground. So she raised her bucket and someone had advised her to try Fast Fibre. This was the turn around --- zoom forward......................... she is virtually back to normal.


This is not always the case, the main thing is to keep them eating and drinking and not stressed. She had to leave her in the field as stabling her stressed her out.
 
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