Chronic loose stool and liquid diarhea

[Emmadenise]

Hello.
Would it be possible for anyone to help me? I’m really worried about a horse I’m sharing. He’s had this issue of loose stool which varies and diarrhoea (water almost in small squirts sometimes larger) now for coming up to two months! I’m just the sharer but the yard owner is also concerned, and a vet has been called. He’s got no temperature, infections, no unusual worms. Apparently the vet had suggested we see how it goes for a couple of weeks. He’s not colicky. He was in the field wearing a muzzle due to his navicular and the new grass, and as he was getting quite round before. He’s always been low pecking order in the field, and moved to this yard 9 months ago.
He eats turmeric, flexi joint, hi life, nuts, and fast fibre and his grass all day and hay at night. Apparently the owner is going to bring being electrolytes (although bloods ok) and a gut balancer.
Should we be doing anything else, I’m really worried about him. His condition has deteriorated and he’s slim boney even.

His bed is soaked each morning.

Thank you

 

[poiuytrewq]

It’s difficult when it’s not your horse but if I had one as you describe I’d be getting another vet.
If he’s gone from quite round to slim and boney I’d not want to be waiting weeks to see what happened.
What’s the owners thoughts? You say you and the YO are worried but don’t mention the actual owner.

 

[TPO]

That's a vet job.

Two months is a very long time to be scouring for.

Meanwhile, you could also try pre and pro biotics.

My horse was scouring, along with weight loss, and had a useless and disinterested vet. I used Protexin gut balancer and added gut sponge which definitely helped.

What helped the most was changing to a vet who cared, in turn they referred us straight to vet hospital.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

How old is he?
If under 7 then colitis is a consideration. This would usually come with significant discomfort around the tummy too.

Usually feeding something like fibrebeet or speedibeet can help but vet can also provide other supplements which will help get him back to a normal routine.

Do you know what advice the vet gave the owner and when they are having a follow up?

 

[Highmileagecob]

Get a second opinion. If he is losing weight and condition it needs investigation.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I have lost two to this sort of condition, 20 years apart. My vet (same one each time) tried everything he could to no avail. First one (12yr old) lasted about 3 months, the second (23) nearly a year. Never got a diagnosis. No infective cause and not worms. I hope this one has better luck.

 

[Emmadenise]

It’s difficult when it’s not your horse but if I had one as you describe I’d be getting another vet.
If he’s gone from quite round to slim and boney I’d not want to be waiting weeks to see what happened.
What’s the owners thoughts? You say you and the YO are worried but don’t mention the actual owner.

Hi. I’ve been speaking to the owner and they are saying they are going to do these things, I have offered and to pay. X

 

[Emmadenise]

I have lost two to this sort of condition, 20 years apart. My vet (same one each time) tried everything he could to no avail. First one (12yr old) lasted about 3 months, the second (23) nearly a year. Never got a diagnosis. No infective cause and not worms. I hope this one has better luck.

Oh god

I have lost two to this sort of condition, 20 years apart. My vet (same one each time) tried everything he could to no avail. First one (12yr old) lasted about 3 months, the second (23) nearly a year. Never got a diagnosis. No infective cause and not worms. I hope this one has better luck.

when you say everything do you mean a gastroscopy? Hay is being changed today.

 

[Emmadenise]

Hi. I’ve been speaking to the owner and they are saying they are going to do these things, I have offered and to pay. X

Very hard as I think I sense the urgency more x

 

[Emmadenise]

Get a second opinion. If he is losing weight and condition it needs investigation.

Yes I have said this, or would organise myself, ideally they pay but I’ll pay myself otherwise. Very hard when not yours. Important to say the vet said see how he is next couple of weeks, he filed his teeth which were sharp and did bloods and poo check and all ok. No temperature x

 

[Emmadenise]

It’s difficult when it’s not your horse but if I had one as you describe I’d be getting another vet.
If he’s gone from quite round to slim and boney I’d not want to be waiting weeks to see what happened.
What’s the owners thoughts? You say you and the YO are worried but don’t mention the actual owner.

Yes said it all. At one point was offered a loan which I was concerned about with his current health and age, I needed to process. I was wobbling but have said I’d take him on, ideally after he’s well in a few months so better financially prepared. Think they are having second thoughts about a loan and considering another sharer now. So possibly it’s financial x

 

[Emmadenise]

Yes said it all. At one point was offered a loan which I was concerned about with his current health and age, I needed to process. I was wobbling but have said I’d take him on, ideally after he’s well in a few months so better financially prepared. Think they are having second thoughts about a loan and considering another sharer now. So possibly it’s financial x

Yard owner said it all multiple times x

 

[Emmadenise]

That's a vet job.

Two months is a very long time to be scouring for.

Meanwhile, you could also try pre and pro biotics.

My horse was scouring, along with weight loss, and had a useless and disinterested vet. I used Protexin gut balancer and added gut sponge which definitely helped.

What helped the most was changing to a vet who cared, in turn they referred us straight to vet hospital.

Yes apparently these were being delivered last week, and now today. I’ve offered to do it otherwise x

 

[Emmadenise]

That's a vet job.

Two months is a very long time to be scouring for.

Meanwhile, you could also try pre and pro biotics.

My horse was scouring, along with weight loss, and had a useless and disinterested vet. I used Protexin gut balancer and added gut sponge which definitely helped.

What helped the most was changing to a vet who cared, in turn they referred us straight to vet hospital.

Thank you. I want to do this. I’m afraid to find myself in out no share but I’ve offered, and said ideally if they could pay but otherwise I would. And I would organise all if they have no time x

 

[Emmadenise]

How old is he?
If under 7 then colitis is a consideration. This would usually come with significant discomfort around the tummy too.

Usually feeding something like fibrebeet or speedibeet can help but vet can also provide other supplements which will help get him back to a normal routine.

Do you know what advice the vet gave the owner and when they are having a follow up?

Thank you all I’m so worried he’s going to drop dead tbh. Although I must say he rides fine, am not doing much, but he seems low. Vet said see how he is a couple of weeks and filed a sharp tooth.

 

[Emmadenise]

It’s difficult when it’s not your horse but if I had one as you describe I’d be getting another vet.
If he’s gone from quite round to slim and boney I’d not want to be waiting weeks to see what happened.
What’s the owners thoughts? You say you and the YO are worried but don’t mention the actual owner.

I know

 

[Emmadenise]

Hi. I’ve been speaking to the owner and they are saying they are going to do these things, I have offered and to pay. X

Time is passing…

 

[Emmadenise]

How old is he?
If under 7 then colitis is a consideration. This would usually come with significant discomfort around the tummy too.

Usually feeding something like fibrebeet or speedibeet can help but vet can also provide other supplements which will help get him back to a normal routine.

Do you know what advice the vet gave the owner and when they are having a follow up?

He’s 18.

 

[Emmadenise]

He’s 18.

Follow up is not organised. But they said to wait two weeks see how he is.

 

[Emmadenise]

I have lost two to this sort of condition, 20 years apart. My vet (same one each time) tried everything he could to no avail. First one (12yr old) lasted about 3 months, the second (23) nearly a year. Never got a diagnosis. No infective cause and not worms. I hope this one has better luck.

I’m so sorry for your loss. The urgency is real

 

[Errin Paddywack]

when you say everything do you mean a gastroscopy? Hay is being changed today.

No, nothing like that. It was a long time ago now, 1970 the first one, 1993 the second. The sort of things that can be done now weren't available then. Someone I knew was a technician at the lab some of his samples were sent to and he said they showed nothing. His started quite slowly, just a bit loose when he normally did little pellet type droppings. I had owned him 22 yrs so knew what was normal for him. It just got worse and worse. The other pony it literally started overnight and never stopped.
Hopefully there are more treatments available now to help him.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Make sure he is getting enough short chop fibre to sustain him, in the event of him not digesting hay or long stalk forage properly. Is there any link between the scouring and the introduction of any new foodstuff or supplement? Consider having a Cushing test and an EMS profile done, and be prepared to call the vet back in before the two weeks is up. Does he have any signs of melanoma anywhere? Really difficult to offer constructive advice when just messaging, and technically the owner is in charge. Hope it's a happy ending, keep us posted.

 

[Emmadenise]

Make sure he is getting enough short chop fibre to sustain him, in the event of him not digesting hay or long stalk forage properly. Is there any link between the scouring and the introduction of any new foodstuff or supplement? Consider having a Cushing test and an EMS profile done, and be prepared to call the vet back in before the two weeks is up. Does he have any signs of melanoma anywhere? Really difficult to offer constructive advice when just messaging, and technically the owner is in charge. Hope it's a happy ending, keep us posted.

Thank you so much xxx will do xx

 

[Emmadenise]

Make sure he is getting enough short chop fibre to sustain him, in the event of him not digesting hay or long stalk forage properly. Is there any link between the scouring and the introduction of any new foodstuff or supplement? Consider having a Cushing test and an EMS profile done, and be prepared to call the vet back in before the two weeks is up. Does he have any signs of melanoma anywhere? Really difficult to offer constructive advice when just messaging, and technically the owner is in charge. Hope it's a happy ending, keep us posted.

No no melanoma I can see x