The only thing I've ever seen similar was a case where an Amish family's horses died from Rumacin poisoning - Rumacin is added to cattle feed "Rumacin is a yeast / microbial supplement fortified with 6 grams of niacin, B vitamins and digestive enzymes for cattle during calving, shipping, and during veterinary treatment. Designed to get the rumen organisms functioning and manage ketosis with research proven levels of niacin."Apparently, VERY toxic to horses, and the feed elevator messed up and mixed their horse feed after a load of steer feed with Rumacin in it
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sounds remotely like grass sickness. affects mostly the old and the young, horses are likely to not survive more than a week, they suffer the same failing organs you described and there is no known cure or cause. the only thing it has been related to is changes in the grass- the weather can, apparently, cause certain types of grass growth that 'dont agree' with the horses, and bring on grass sickness. it often presents itself as either poisoning or colic. so little is known about it :(
Except that the horses who are living on the pastures are not getting this she said. Only the old ones who are dependent on their grain. They've had experts go over all the field anyway she said. But that would make sense if the pasture fed ones were getting sick too. She must just feel sooo very helpless and very sad too. The lady seems to do some wonderful work from what I read of her.
thats fair enough, but the grain would have nothing to do with it if it was grass sickness- many horses can live in the same paddock together, and only 1 or 2 horses might be affected. what were the experts looking for, exactly? you certainly cant see grass sickness- even doing an analysis of the grass wouldnt help entirely, as no one is entirely sure which cycle of growth it is that brings on grass sickness. certainly is a sad situation.
Im not so sure it said what exactly they were looking for. I would imagine for poisonous plants, signs of botulism affecting the grasses,which it can while growing, things like that. Her horses who are out on pasture are not getting sick. Only the older ones with tooth loss who depend on the grain. But yah, it sure it awful, such a helpless feeling.
jeez, that's just awful. a friend of mine lost two horses within a week. colic like symptoms, then complete paralysis. she was grieving too much to really get into the cause of it, unfortunately. tainted food was suspected, but when tested was proved okay (tested by THE COMPANY'S scientists, mind you).
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