Equine Grass Sickness (Equine Dysautonomia)

This disease is life-threatening and should be treated by a veterinarian swiftly.

Equine grass sickness (EGS) is a frequently fatal disease of the nervous system of affected horses, ponies and donkeys. Although EGS has been recognised since the beginning of the 20th Century, research has, as yet, failed to identify a specific cause.

Symptoms

Common in

Treatment

The prognosis is incredibly poor; all acute/subacute cases are incurable and euthanasia on humane groups is unavoidable.

Recovery from the chronic form may be possible, but there is no specific treatment.

Mildly affected chronic cases may respond to intensive nursing care, during which it is important to keep the horse warm and comfortable, maintain grooming and walking, and provide fresh, palatable, easy-to-eat succulent feed.

Prevention

Avoid grazing areas where there have been previous cases of grass sickness or recent soil disturbance, for example, from harrowing. Minimise soil exposure by moving horses before grazing gets too short or fields are poached. Avoid sudden changes to your horse’s diet.

How Happie can help you manage your horse's health

Digital health management offers numerous benefits in modern equine healthcare.

With the Happie Horse App, you can track symptom patterns and body values, such as Temperature, Pulse and Respiration. Allowing you to notice abnormal changes in body and behaviour early on, leading to more successful treatments.

The Happie symptom checker allows you to add all of your horse's abnormal symptoms in order to present potential causes and diseases.

Neurological

Equine Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy

Equine Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy Seek veterinary advice if you suspect this disease. Equine Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy (EDM) is a hereditary neurological disorder

Diseases

Equine Motor Neurone Disease

Seek veterinary advice if you suspect this disease.

Equine motor neurone disease is a progressive neurological disorder in horses causing muscle weakness, weight loss, and trembling.