bjf
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Posts: 302
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Post by bjf on Aug 19, 2010 19:01:21 GMT 1
I have at home two very sick ponies, Sherrie came home last Friday and Rachel today.... both are staggering, very stiff front legs, have no co-ordination, infact their back legs are not working at all, heads down, not eating, eyes rolling, muscel tremours..... it appears that they both have Rye Grass Staggers.. www.horsetalk.co.nz/health/109-staggers.shtmlRachel is causing the most worry as she is in foal, and there is a chance of aborting. They are both being kept very quiet, as its all caused by a toxin that attacks the lining of the brain, with only hay to eat. the other ponies/horses are fine, infact very well, but I have been told that its worse in those with low immume, ie older, younger and sick ones. I have just got of the phone with my vet who has told me that he will visit if I want but there is no treatment, its a case of suck it and see...most cases recover, never suffering long term damage, but some dont and have to be PTS. I have never heard of this, my ponies have grazed my summer fields for the last 20 years with no problems, but it seem that the weather conditions are right for the toxins to develope. Please watch all your ponies for the same thing, I am so upset, I have cried all day. Please send healing thoughts x |
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chloe
Grand Prix Poster
Kai's Mum
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Post by chloe on Aug 19, 2010 19:11:24 GMT 1
*hugs* I'm so sorry to hear that! Is there nothing the vets can do - anti-spasmodics? Painkillers? Anything?
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bjf
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Post by bjf on Aug 19, 2010 19:16:29 GMT 1
they are not in pain! painkillers will not help, sherrie has had sedalin, but it made her worse, vet took her off it, we know they have it because sherrie was blood tested, and as Rachel now has the same symptoms, we are sure its the same.
They can have anti-toxins but the ones they use are for cattle and can damage the liver in horse/ponies, so I dont want to take the chance.... its a waiting game I am afraid.
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Post by sara on Aug 19, 2010 19:21:45 GMT 1
That is horrendous, how horrible and worrying for you.
Whereabouts are you based? Is it more common in certain parts?
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big e
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Post by big e on Aug 19, 2010 19:24:43 GMT 1
Fingers crossed they both make a full recovery. Did the vet indicate how long that woud be?
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big e
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Post by big e on Aug 19, 2010 19:26:46 GMT 1
could you give them bran and epson salts to get it through their system quicker, or are they not eating at all?
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bjf
Advanced Poster
Posts: 302
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Post by bjf on Aug 19, 2010 19:32:19 GMT 1
We are in Blackpool, but this can happen anywhere, it appears that a fungal toxin developes in Rye Grass in late summer, and the damp conditions we have had over the last few weeks spead its growth.
This fungus is injested by ether eating it or inhailing it...most horses/ponies it does not bother, but others it does. My summer fields are rye grass!
It can take up to 2 weeks for it to clear the system, the saddest thing is I have been told that the less contact they have with me the better, this is because they cannot really co-ordinate their brains to work properly and any sudden movement could cause them in the worse cases to collapse with muscel tremors which can last several minutes, which is why they are being kept very quiet.
The first symptons we notice was they were lying down more than normal and could not get up, infact one of the others was pawing Sherrie!!! when they do get up they are to stiff to move and they start to shake.
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bjf
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Post by bjf on Aug 19, 2010 19:37:27 GMT 1
Big e, the vets have said hay only, nothing else......
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Post by anastasia55555 on Aug 19, 2010 19:41:39 GMT 1
 lots and lots of luck! Sounds awful, must feel totally helpless i know i would! Hugs for you all xxx |
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Post by sarahbing on Aug 19, 2010 19:55:12 GMT 1
You poor thing. Sending healing thoughts xx
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Post by mandal on Aug 19, 2010 20:34:00 GMT 1
Omg! Grass really is becoming the enemy isn't it! Strength to you all and a special vibes for mare in foal. (((hugs)))
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Post by Lorraine L on Aug 19, 2010 21:01:47 GMT 1
Wishing them both a very speedy, full recovery and some hugs for you too x
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clairebearnz
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Mum to Sparky and Tally and Fready and Missy
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Post by clairebearnz on Aug 19, 2010 21:03:44 GMT 1
Ryegrass staggers is incredibly common here. It's very common in the period after a drought when it first starts to rain again. It was at the end of summer, when there were a lot of ryegrass and paspalam seed heads around, and not much other grass. Tally had it in that period a couple of years ago, although his case wasn't at all severe, he just didn't look right (ie I'd try to move his hind legs and he'd stumble etc). My other horse was absolutely unaffected.
From my experience, horses recover fully from it, as long as they're taken off the pasture. With Tally, I moved paddocks to one with less ryegrass and he was fed only hay until the grass began to recover and he came right within a couple of days.
Horses who get staggers once are prone to getting it again.
You can get mycotoxin binders (at least in NZ), which are fairly effective, especially if you know your horse is prone to it, or the conditions are right for endophytes.
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Post by laurac on Aug 19, 2010 21:08:04 GMT 1
oh poor ponies, poor you, bug hugs and wishing them a quick recovery to health xxx
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Post by kafee on Aug 19, 2010 21:36:16 GMT 1
2 ponies ill at once! Poor them, poor you. Thinking of you. Please keep us posted.
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lots and lots of luck! Sounds awful, must feel totally helpless 
