Horse owners are being urged to remain vigilant following multiple cases and deaths from equine grass sickness (EGS) in south-west Scotland, Devon and Lincolnshire.
Machars Veterinary Services in Newton Stewart has reported a cluster of cases in the Wigtownshire area, including multiple fatalities. Although cases are usually rare in the region and EGS is not contagious, clusters of the disease can occur within particular areas or even on individual premises.
Equine grass sickness is a serious disease that affects the horse’s nervous system, resulting in paralysis of parts of the digestive tract. It can affect horses and ponies of all ages, although cases are most commonly reported in animals aged between two and seven years.
There are three forms of the disease – acute, sub-acute and chronic – with symptoms varying according to the form and severity. Signs can include difficulty swallowing, reduced appetite or refusal to eat, excessive salivation, an increased heart rate, abdominal distension and signs associated with reduced gut function.
The cause of EGS remains unknown despite more than a century of research, but certain weather patterns have been associated with an increased risk.
Dr Beth Wells, an animal science consultant with the Moredun Research Institute, has highlighted prolonged dry weather followed by significant rainfall and fluctuating temperatures as conditions associated with periods of higher risk. Unusual weather patterns may also help explain why cases sometimes occur outside areas traditionally associated with the disease.
However, experts have stressed that the current risk is likely to remain low across most of the UK.
During clusters of cases, owners may be advised to consider measures such as reducing grazing time or moving horses away from paddocks where cases have occurred. The Equine Grass Sickness Fund also operates a weather alert system providing localised information about periods when conditions may increase the risk of EGS.
The recent reports have understandably caused concern among horse owners, with a number of Animalweb members contacting us for further information.
