What are the signs of grass sickness?
The signs may vary but usually include difficulty or inability swallowing and abdominal pain. They can be divided into three groups: acute, sub-acute and chronic. Acute form In the acute form, the horse appears dull, and has difficulty eating and drinking. Saliva may drip from the lips. The horse may show frustration at being unable to drink by playing with its water, or pawing the ground. There may be muscle tremors at the shoulder and quarters. Sweating may be generalised or patchy. As the disease progresses the abdomen tends to become distended. Signs of colic vary from mild to severe. The pulse rate is markedly elevated (100 beats/minute or more), and is often higher than would be expected for the degree of pain shown by the horse. There is reflux of watery brown-green stomach contents through the nose. This may happen spontaneously, or after the vet passes a stomach tube. Scanty faeces are passed, often covered with mucus. There may be drooping of the upper eyelids (“ptosis”) whic
