Can feeding a horse soaked hay give it loose droppings?

[Blythe Spirit]

As title really but a few extra details - about 4 months ago I took my horse to the vets to have a cough investigated - he recommended I feed wet hay and move to dust free bedding - I have done this and the horse has not coughed again BUT ever since I started with the wet hay - which I only dunk in water and drain - he has had intermittently very loose droppings. Its odd because he does one or two very wet ones then a normal one or two. He often seems a tiny bit uncomfortable with the loose ones as if he gets mild cramp before passing one. Otherwise he remains in good condition bright and happy and apparently normal. could this be the wet hay? or something more sinister? He is regularly worm counted and wormed for those which can't be counted - he is fed hay in the stable and in the field which is small but still a bit grassy is worked about 6 days in 7 and is fed a stubbs scoop of Happy hoof once a day. Any thoughts??

 

[[100323]]

Do you use fresh water for each soaking, or how often do you change it. Bugs can build up in the soaking water. If I need to soak hay now I pour a bucket of fresh water over it, and leave for a few minutes. Not had problems with loose droppings that way.

 

[JillA]

You might try steaming it instead - plastic bin with a tight fitting lid, kettle of boiling water and a little time, it might even be easier on you and if the droppings return to normal you will have your answer.

 

[Blythe Spirit]

I pop hay in bucket and fill bucket then drain bucket right away - so using fresh water each time and not soaking for more than a few seconds really

 

[be positive]

I have used soaked hay and never found this to cause them to be loose, in fact I have had the opposite as they don't always then drink as much as they should, you are not soaking for long enough to deplete the vitamins or sugars so it may be that the hay is a bit rich, try soaking for longer then rinsing which will reduce the sugar content, if that works you know it is the richness causing the problem.

I would not be that concerned about the loose droppings usually if that is normal for him but would be by the fact he seems uncomfortable when passing them, that does suggest something is going on which needs to be looked into, constantly loose droppings can show they are failing to digest and absorb the food correctly, a probiotic may be useful to help settle everything down.

 

[Toffee44]

What's your grazing like?
Mine aren't drinking any water in their stables but have loose poos that get more solid as the night goes on. It's the water in the grass atm.

 

[Blythe Spirit]

Its not particularly good quality hay and its the same hay really that he got before he started coughing unsoaked- but its an option worth trying - I will experiment. Its the intermittent nature of it as well as his apparent discomfort which concerns more most I think. Take past night he passed two normal droppings whilst being schooled. He was going well then when back in his stable after exercise he started to look a bit off swishing tail but restless then passed one very wet dropping and seems totally fine again

 

[be positive]

Its not particularly good quality hay and its the same hay really that he got before he started coughing unsoaked- but its an option worth trying - I will experiment. Its the intermittent nature of it as well as his apparent discomfort which concerns more most I think. Take past night he passed two normal droppings whilst being schooled. He was going well then when back in his stable after exercise he started to look a bit off swishing tail but restless then passed one very wet dropping and seems totally fine again

To pass 3 lots in a short time doesn't sound quite right, does he normally go twice or even once when you school? there is something going on if he is uncomfortable with no obvious reason or if it is happening frequently even if intermittent they really should not find it painful in any way, that is not normal for any horse.
If you can do a few different things to see how it effects him it will at least rule something in or out if you have to look into it further but to me it does suggest an issue in his gut, possibly hindgut acidosis, which needs to be addressed to get him more comfortable, I would also think about the happy hoof being unsuitable, it may be worth stopping that for a few days to see if it makes any difference.

 

[Blythe Spirit]

Why are you suspicious of the Happy Hoof? And would you suggest anything instead he is not fat (neither is he thin) and is probably in so called medium work. The grazing is not great - its muddy and there can't be much goodness in it - he has a hard standing feeding platform in his field for his hay and so he is not stood in mud all day. He does usually poo a couple of times when I ride - in fact so does my other horse so this does not strike me as alarming - not huge poos. Just does it as he moves along you know. I could try stopping the happy hoof - for a day or so - then if no change I think I will mention to the vet

 

[Janovich]

Mmmmm...have you tried doing half and half? That is, having his net filled with half soaked and half dried hay (if your hay is OK enough to do this with in terms of not being dusty/too dry etc,.)?

I wonder if, with being on 'wet grass' at this time of year and having a net with completely soaked hay, he's perhaps got too much liquid going through him that he personally can't cope with??...just a thought OP.

Feel free to ignore!! LOL

Edited to see that from the posts above, my questions seem to have been answered!! Not quick enough getting my post up!!