Information on Equine Grass Sickness from the States Vet in Guernsey
Submitted by GSPCA on 11:54, 24th Feb, 2014 |
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Following the death of a horse in Guernsey the GSPCA would like to draw horse owners attention to information released recently by the States Vet David Chamberlain:
The States Veterinary Officer would like to advise horse owners of the confirmed presence on the Island of the disease Equine Grass Sickness (EGS) which has been confirmed by laboratory analysis at the Animal Health Trust to be the cause of the death of a horse in the last 10 days
EGS is a debilitating and predominantly fatal disease affecting grazing horses, ponies, and donkeys. There is no evidence that EGS occurs in other animals or humans.
There are three recognised forms of EGS, acute, sub-acute and chronic depending upon the speed of onset of the disease and the time a horse survives.
Currently there is no specific treatment or preventative treatment available so any treatment is aimed at managing symptoms. If it is apparent that it is not possible to manage the symptoms that distress the horse, then euthanasia should be considered to avoid unnecessary suffering.
If horse owners have any concerns regarding EGS they are advise to contact their own private veterinary surgeons.
The recent occurrence of EGS in Guernsey may well have been caused by this winter’s unusual weather, triggering rapid grass growth and the rapid increase in levels of the causative bacteria in the horse’s gut.
Clinical signs of EGS include:
abdominal pain
disruption of normal propulsive ability of the intestine
difficulty eating and poor appetite
increased heart rate
patchy sweating
increase saliva in the mouth and possible dribbling
drooping of the upper eyelid
reduced nasal secretions resulting in a crusty nose
involuntary muscle twitching and weakness
depression
When disease is confirmed horse owners are advised to remove remaining horses from the field where the disease occurred.
Additional Information
The cause of EGS has not been definitively resolved, but there is increasing evidence suggesting that it may be the result of infection involving a bacteria called Clostridium botulinum type C.
Clostridium botulinum is a normal inhabitant of the intestine of animals and humans and is found widely in the outdoor environment especially soil.
It is suggested that EGS occurs following ingestion of Clostridium botulinum from the environment at the same time as other risk factors that is the cause of disease.
The majority of clinical signs are related to paralysis within the digestive tract due to nerve damage caused by the release of a toxin by the bacteria.
Click here for a document from ‘Equine Grass Sickness Surveillance’ which provides information regarding ‘Risk Factors Associated with EGS’ which has been provided by Jo Ireland of the AHT for local information. More information can be found at: http://www.grasssickness.org.uk/
To contact your vet details here is the information of the vet practices in Guernsey:
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