There's a thread about equine grass sickness in general chat last year started by ?halfpenny & ribbons contributes her experience. Marie contributes a post.
The cause is as yet unknown for rabbits & horses. Neil Forbes at GWR proved that the same type of illness in parrots - parrot ventricular disease - was triggered by a virus. The receptor site on the virus is so similar to that of the gut nerve cells that the immune system gradually destroys them.
The diagnosis can only be made by examining part of the affected gut, & seeing loss of nerve ganglia microscopically at post mortem. This is very much Marie's interest. C. botulinum will cause paralysis, by blocking transmission across nerve endings but does not destroy the nerves.
Yes, my Thumper is thought to have dysautonomia (megacolon type disease) but has recently made a dramatic improvement over the last 6 weeks by eating blackthorn leaves. I have many questions to ask Marie when he has a dental on Fri.
Thumper's progress is minutely detailed in his thread. It is an effort to help others with this horrid fatal disease, as we explore the use of common wild plants to keep him going. The marked improvement is documented -
http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?t=226422&page=69 #686.
onwards.
We encountered many unexpected issues on our journey from early signs of hock sores due to immobility, to massive issues with thermoregulation because he couldn't moult his winter coat, & even inability to absorb water. I am very happy to discuss it further with you.
Blackthorn leaves are only effective for about 6-8 weeks of the year in Autumn.
ETA Pretty Lupin drew our attention to the fact that shop veg are washed in Chlorine. There were a lot of "dysbiosis" issues last year at this time, including Thumpers rapid deterioration. Daisy Sunshine's conti Daisy, subsequently diagnosed as dysautonomia had her 1st. episode when she had shop veg along with Jester who made a full recovery. (Another person worth contacting)