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Post by jackiedo on Dec 28, 2008 18:06:03 GMT 1
Thanks again Sue.. This could be a lifesaver. x
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laura
Grand Prix Poster
going for a splash
Posts: 3,867
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Post by laura on Dec 28, 2008 23:18:19 GMT 1
this is just what I was discussing with my vet over the summer when Bonney got a mild laminitis for the first time in her life at 17 ..... they could make NO recommendations as to what we could alter in her management and were saying that they were seeing increases in several "illnesses" that could be linked to an alternation in the chemical make up of the forage even though the actual land management had not altered ...... the climate seemed to be something that needed a lot of evaluation and that those of us with the more susceptable equines ( mainly grass kept) had to just be vigilant in the meanwhile.
Like any of us here that have lost a horse for unexplained or not understood reasons I hope that research like this continues and that further deaths can be prevented.
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Post by mandal on Dec 30, 2008 12:06:55 GMT 1
Great stuff sue! The web site is great too, does anyone know of similar info/research done in UK??? I suppose warmer and wetter conditions which we are increasingly seeing are conducive to mould growth as well as more growth spurts in grass. Mmmm Ive been thinking about a detox agent for a while for Toby and this has made me be more convinced it will help him but I'd better check with the vet in his case.
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clairebearnz
Advanced Poster
Mum to Sparky and Tally and Fready and Missy
Posts: 407
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Post by clairebearnz on Dec 30, 2008 15:07:54 GMT 1
Rye-grass staggers is a huge problem down here, especially with a wet-dry-wet time, like last summer in both the Manawatu and Waikato, we had a very wet winter then a drought, so the fungus proliferated. Tally had a suspected case of staggers last summer as the only thing growing was paspalam, which has the same problem, he just wasn't quite right, he wasn't reacting right and he wasn't moving right and he seemed to sway almost, like he couldn't get his balance. However, I shut him in an area by a stream which wasn't as stressed and fed him a ton of hay and he swung right. He's been alright, touch wood, but we haven't really hit the dry bit of the summer. It was definitely an experience though. In saying that, he hasn't had a problem, and I've never had a problem with our current pasture (which is a rye-clover mix). I've never had a case of laminitis, and this was during a drought so the grass was extremely stressed. (picture of part of Tally's paddock during the drought) img.photobucket.com/albums/v665/ClaireBear_nz/tally10-2-2008001.jpgThat article was interesting, selenium deficiency is a problem here, less so with selenium added to feed these days.
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