THE THOUGHT OF equine grass sickness (EGS) is enough to instil fear into all horse owners — after all, only 20% of horses hit by this killer disease will survive. The rest will have to be humanely destroyed. Even those who live may need months of intensive nursing that can prove taxing and stressful for owners.
Basically, EGS, whichwas first recognised in eastern Scotland in 1907, is highly complex and involves damage to the autonomic nervous systemwhich functions unconsciously and regulates internal body functions such as gut peristalsis, whichmoves the food along the gut during the digestive process. It is this gut function that is damaged in EGS, with awhole or partial gut paralysis resulting.
Previous research using pathology has identified that the damage caused during EGS is due to a neurotoxin, but there are more unknowns than knowns when it comes to this devastating disease.
So how can an owner spot EGS in their horse?
They will often find a dull, listless equine; onewho is no longer first to the gate and who lacks interest in his food. He may chew that food, but not swallow it. Hemay poo less than usual, or not at all. Putting an ear to his gut may reveal reduced or no gut sounds. This is a red flag, but it can also be caused by impaction, and somay be
