Management of Chronic Grass Sickness
Equine dysautonomia, or "grass sickness", is a very important disease in some areas of the world, particularly the United Kingdom and some parts of South America (where it's called mal seco). The cause of the disease is still unclear, but there is increasing evidence implicating the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which produces the toxin that causes botulism. There are several forms of grass sickness, one of which is the chronic form. This form of grass sickness is potentially survivable (unlike the other forms which are invariably fatal), although treatment can be long and difficult. To help guide people managing horses with chronic grass sickness, a free-access online booklet has been released by World Horse Welfare and the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. It is a comprehensive booklet that provides a wealth of information about this disease, with an emphasis on how to care for affected horses. The document can be downloaded here or by visiting the World Horse Welfare website.
