Grass sickness?

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annew

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I have heard people talk abut grass sickness. I know it can be fatal but what causes the horse to get it? I have also read that there is little anyone can do to prevent it and there isn't an effective treatment available.

Has anyone experienced this or got good advice on how to avoid it or treat it?

I think this could be a good talking point and might be usefu lto all of us in the future.
 
I have read in the past that land which has had horses on it before that have suffered grass sickness is more likely to have horses in future on it that will suffer grass sickness.I know that often cases occur in clusters and certain areas of the country seem more succeptible to it.Also young horses are supposedly more succeptible to grass sickness.
There are different types of grass sickness as in acute,subacute attack and depending on how symptoms occur will result in either a very fast death or a slow painful one.
If a horse does have grass sickness they require really intensive nursing and while horses can pull through it more often than not it is still fatal.
 
A while ago a magazine of mine (think it was Horse and Rider) did a whole thing about it. It's more common in northen areas such as scotland I think. I guess the only way to prevent it is not turn your horse out atall, which is obviously not very practical! In the article it showed how some horses recovered, but can't remember the exact statistics! Hope this helped, if you want more info I can try to dig it out for you! x
 
Any info would be good Bramble09 - I like to read about these things as much as possible so that if anything does happen I am prepared - sometimes I envy people who have no animals because they don't have to worry about these things or go through the pain when something does go wrong - but only sometimes - couldn't imagine being without them. The pleasure they bring is incredible isn't it?
 
We lost a horse in May. Horrible illness.

It's basically paralysis of the nerves that supply the gastric system. So their digestive system packs in. It can look like colic.

We had a show 2 weeks ago and have so far raised over £1600 for the grass sickness foundation.

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

If any of you want to donate to our fund you can through my just giving page
http://www.justgiving.com/egs-jump/

Thanks
 
I've known two cases, my brothers horse died from it, such a waste he was only 7. I don't know much about his case it was a very long time ago I was still at school.
The other one was a youngster 3ish I think. The vet said she had 5 of the 7 signs (someone correct me if i'm wrong on the numbers it was a few years ago and a friends horse) she was bad with it. Vet basically said to keep doing what we were doing and hope for the best! We fed her alfa, pasture mix and hay as much as we could get down her, we also walked her on the lunge. She pulled through the vet said it was thanks to the owner being pig headed and that he wouldn't let the mare give up.
I have no idea if what we did is reccomended or not but it worked for that mare.
 
unfortunately when i worked at a yard in 2006we lost 4 previously healthy horses one was a 5yr old clydesdale mare apparently this breed is more suseptable (not sure iftrue) a 4yr old little irish cob gelding he had the acute form and had to be put down immediately as he was in so much pain. a 10 yrold section A gelding and a 16.2 4yr old coloured tb cross so three of them were relatively young this can be a factor, we had the fields harrowed not long beforehand, they say that disturbing the ground can be a factor. the one who had acute form had not long come to the yard they say stress can be a factor. As far as we are aware there had not been previous noted cases on this yard and ever since there has not been any cases this is a big horse yard. we are in NE scotland this is a heavily affected area and in this yr lots of other cases were reported in this area. Ever since this it has been something i am massivley concerned about apparently the times between may and august are the most common times for grass sickness, i now feed a probiotic (pink powder) daily and also seaweed daily as there has been studys that say this can help although not proven personally i'm willing to try anything. also the mare i had at the time of this was at the same yard and on same grazing as those affected,i took her in evry day and gave her as much hay as she wanted and her hard feeds i dont know if this helped prevent her contracting it or not. the horses that did not have the acute form we tried desperately to save but they had lost their swallowing reflex and were unable to drink or eat within a week they took on the stance of a greyhound very tucked up and massivley underweight they looked like neglet cases lost the weight so quickly, they constantly shiver muscle spasm part of the nerves thing, and we had to have them pts to be honest it was one ofthe hardest times in my life and i hope i never have to experience it again. sorry massive essay, hope it might help a bit. x
 
The cause of GS is not, as yet, not known for certain, although botulism* is thought to be connected. Horses turned out where another horse has had are NOT more likely to get it.
The gut paralyses and the horse is unable to eat or poo, and when it drinks the water pours back out of the nostril. Weight loss is dramatic, from good healthy weight to skeletal in less then 24 hours. Depending on the type, most die but some can pull through with much care and attention.

* Having a blank moment, it may not be botulism, but another of those nasty organisms. Sorry if I am wrong and confuse.

I sadly lost a beautiful 11 year old mare to it. A friends horse pulled through (not anywhere near eaxh other)
 
Have been away so didnt see most replies till today. It must have been absolutely dreadful for those of you having to go through such a nightmare. I am fairly new to keeping ponies so am learning all the time. I worried that I may not spot the symptoms but I don't think there is any chance of that! Can donkeys get it? I have 2 of them and although they are similar in their habits and needs to ponies they are very different in others.

Thankyou for all your replies - I hope they find a cure soon - or at least a cause x
 
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