Horse botulism is a progressive neuromuscular disease caused by the neurotoxin produced by the anaerobic bacterium clostridium botulinum.
The bacterium is commonly found in soils and is closely related to the bacterium that causes tetanus (Clostridium tetani).
Depending on the amount of toxin involved, horse botulism can be extremely severe and quickly result in the following;
- Weakness and flaccid paralysis - lack of muscle tone with reduced ability to move
- Dysphagia - difficulty in swallowing
- Reduced tongue tone
- Reduced ability to retract tongue
- Weak eyelid tone – droop
- Muscle fasciculations/tremors
- Colic
- Abnormal respiratory pattern and rate.
In severe cases of horse botulism, death can occur as a result of respiratory paralysis when not treated promptly. Horse botulism can present in a variety of ways, including forage poisoning, wound botulism, and toxicoinfectious botulism (shaker foal syndrome).
The most common cause of horse botulism is ingestion of feed or water contaminated with the toxin (not the bacterial spores themselves).
Can Equissage help with Horse Botulism?
You should not use Equissage if this condition is suspected as emergency veterinary intervention is of critical importance if the horse is to survive as an anti-toxin needs to be administered.
Much depends on the speed of onset and the cause – and how quickly the anti-toxin is given – as to whether Equissage can be of any benefit so as not to compromise the horse further. With Botulism the horse can feel everything – pain, hunger, thirst, the need to urinate, fear, etc. but is unable to move as it is motor nerves that are affected. The sensory ones are not.
The benefits of using Equissage are that it can help with muscle function. Its stimulatory effects aid in improving circulation, venous and lymphatic drainage (elimination of toxins), indicates that its use can be invaluable. The deep massage is known to help stimulate nerves and their regeneration. The horse will also be fed intravenously; Equissage will help in the circulation of those nutrients throughout the body. Concern would however be that if a horse is in pain but cannot show this, or the respiratory muscles are already compromised then Equissage use is not feasible or humane.
Equissage will come into its own once it is established that the horse is showing signs of recovery. Horses do make a full recovery from Botulism (or it certainly appears that they do) without long lasting negative effects, so using Equissage as part of the rehabilitative process can only aid the intense management programme that will be required.
For more information please call 0800 072 1180, email us at info@equissage.co.uk or request a FREE TRIAL
Application
Equissage should be used little and often on a very low setting. The horse with Botulism is a very sick horse so he will not want an Equissage Pad strapped to him. It is better just to lay the Pad over the horse’s back, or if he is down over his side. The Hand Unit can be applied gently to other parts of the body. Several short sessions throughout the day will be of more benefit and minimise the risk of over-stimulation particularly as the horse will have a catheter whilst he is unable to urinate.
Horses this sick readily become depressed which does not aid in recovery (as with people), as the sensory nerves will be functioning normally, a very gentle massage will provide a psychological “lift”.
