Chronic diarrhoea in lactating mare ,,

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I am hoping someone out there has at some point had this problem and give me some ideas of what they found worked.
I have an 8 yr old 15.1 mare with 6 week old foal at foot. Purchased 2 months prior to foaling and has always had this problem. Very very loose, foul smelling.
She has been wormed,teeth done, tested for salmonella & clear, so far we have tried,,,
Antibiotics, pre biotics, pro biotics, succeed, pink powder, different diets, etc etc etc and just no difference. Someone has suggested codeine, has anyone used this for this problem? Or got any other ideas? Obviously she is nursing a v large and healthy foal so treatment must be safe for both ???????
 
have you tried koaline & morphine or scourstop type treatments, I always use something along those lines for a scouring foal and routinely get good results within 12 hours, hope this helps. Also, Is she in season, perhaps a hormonal inbalance or overload could be causing her to be so loose.
 
Thank you Yes tried that, she has had it months now, in fact was like it as soon as I got her home. Any other ideas? Foal seems fine.
 
Are you feeding hay or haylage? I have found that haylage doesn't agree with some horses so it may be worth experimenting if you are feeding it to her. I would put her on a good strong probiotic, something like Protexin or Probiozyme and then i have had success with mild cases with Gastro-Kalm charcoal (Equus Health) as this helps to adsorb any toxins and excess acids which could be irritating the gut. It is traditionally used for poisoning so it is good stuff and doesn't unbalance the rest of the diet. Also, as it is natural there is no problem for lactating mare or if the foal eats some. Hope this helps.
 
I have a horse (and have known others too) who will have foul smelling cow pat poo when he is 24/7 on grass. It is much worse when the grass is wet, as has often been the case this summer. I have had two others at livery here over the years, who were the same, and always when on grass 24/7. I have found that my gelding's droppings go back to normal when I reduce his grazing and supplement with haylage. Hay would obviously do the same, but I always use haylage. The haylage I use is quite dry though. The wetter type can cause scouring.
 
I am glad I am not the only horse owner who is currently experiencing this problem. I have an 11.1hh Sec A broodmare who is 19 this year. I had her given to me at 15 as she had horrendous problems with her teeth - these are now sorted. Ever since I've had her she's had issues on and off with very loose droppings but it's been worse this year than ever. I'm guessing the wet weather has something to do with it. She has also been worse since having the foal which was born late on 18 August.
I have her teeth done regularly, she is wormed regularly and I've had tests done/vet out twice in the last 5 months to check her but can't find anything untoward. Worm count from her droppings was fine, bloods seem OK too. Foal is doing super and eating hard food now like a little demon!! Dink is currently fed a molasses free diet as possible as I was told this could attribute to her loose droppings and I've also been told to steer clear of barley for the moment too. She is currently on countrywide Extra care mix and Countrywide Alfa A lite chaff. She is quite a fussy eater so this food tends to suit her.
I've tried the live yoghurts/Yakult, currently on Pink Powder, Event liquid from the vet, pro and pre-biotics but nothing seems to stop it. I can't stable Dink as she frets too much if she is kept in for any length of time as she has always lived out (she is quite stroppy and likes her own way!). She is well rugged with a combo rug on so she is never cold or too wet.
I have to ring the vets back today to see if there is anything else we can try.
If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to suggest! I am open to weird and wonderful as well as conventional ideas as long as they are tried and tested.
May give the Charcoal route a go now and see what results that will give. She is due for her annual Panacur Guard 5 day treatment so may give her that early as she is due for worming end of the month.
 
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I'd be looking for stability in her diet, which I know is easier said than done when you are trying to find something which will help her produce normal poos again.

What is her management/diet at the moment (amount of time grazing, weights of whatever type of forage given, weights of whatever other feeds/supplements etc she's on)?

What weight is she? How is she conditionwise? - Too thin, too fat, just right?

Sarah
 
SOmething to consider is food intolerances to things such as wheat etc found in feeds - maybe try a purely grass/hay/haylage diet with nothing else in there at all and only use hay or hyalage that you know where it's come from, what type of grasses are in it etc.
 
flintfootfilly said:
I'd be looking for stability in her diet, which I know is easier said than done when you are trying to find something which will help her produce normal poos again.

What is her management/diet at the moment (amount of time grazing, weights of whatever type of forage given, weights of whatever other feeds/supplements etc she's on)?

What weight is she? How is she conditionwise? - Too thin, too fat, just right?

Sarah
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Spot on for me!

I would put her on a plain diet of stud nuts only, no mixes or molasses at all with preferably hay instead of haylage. Give that a fortnight at least to see if it helps, preferably longer.
As others have said, this wet weather hasn't helped with the grass being literally just water, once the weather dries up (if only) you should see an improvement.
 
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