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Grass Sickness (view source)

Revision as of 14:59, 23 July 2010

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==Description==

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Equine grass sickness, or equine dysautonomia causes a paralysis of the gastro-intestinal tract, by disruption of the autonomic nervous system. This leads to a pooling of ingesta throughout all parts of the gastro-intestinal tract. The condition may occur acutely, or progress chronically over several weeks, but all cases will eventually die. A definitive diagnosis is obtained by taking an ileal biopsy, and inspecting the intrinsic myenteric plexus. There is no effective treatment, although in the short to medium term, horses can be successfully managed by informed and attentive owners.

==Signalment==

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*Dysphagia

*Inappetence

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*Muscular tremors

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*Reduced faecal output

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*Hypersalivation

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*** Muscular tremors

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*** Does not eat

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*** Constipation

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*** Become severly tympanic in acute cases

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*** Dull and restless

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*** Avoid swallowing

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*** Salivate excessively

** Degenerative lesions are seen in the autonomic nerve ganglia, including enteric plexuses

** May either:

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*** Ganglia are peanut sized and found in perirenal fat between adrenal gland and the aorta.

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Equine grass sickness, or equine dysautonomia causes a paralysis of the gastro-intestinal tract, by disruption of the autonomic nervous system. This leads to a pooling of ingesta throughout all parts of the gastro-intestinal tract. The condition may occur acutely, or progress chronically over several weeks, but all cases will eventually die. A definitive diagnosis is obtained by taking an ileal biopsy, and inspecting the intrinsic myenteric plexus. There is no effective treatment, although in the short to medium term, horses can be successfully managed by informed and attentive owners.

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==Treatment==

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==References==

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[[Category:Intestine_-_Functional_Obstruction]][[Category:Horse]]

[[Category:Medical_Colic_in_the_Horse]][[Category:To_Do_-_lizzyk]]

Eknowles

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