Colitis again?

[HaplessHorse]

I’m absolutely terrified as I lost a horse last year due to colitis.

One of my mares (not 100% sure which so I’m watching and waiting for one to poo) is producing very sloppy poos. I first noticed it yesterday evening, during the day poo pick, I’m planning on working out who it is today and contacting vet this afternoon if no change. Neither of them are showing any other symptoms, hence my uncertainty.

They’re both on a diet in a dusty paddock, hence why I started psyllium husk in the afternoon yesterday (after the slightly worrying poo pick). I’ve followed the instructions to a T and reduced the amount according to their size.

Cob has been here 2 months and had some initial less-than-firm poos (but not worrying) due to changing diet and routine. She hasn’t had any significant issues since, other than a bit of softer poo (which scared me a bit) when she moved from grazing to normal diet again.

The water tank isn’t filtered, so I’m also going to carry house water down in case the water tank is germy.

Is colitis likely? Or is there anything else that anyone thinks is more likely?

 

[Red-1]

If one of mine did a sloppy poo, colitis would not be the first thing on my list, although I understand why it would be for you.

have your horses been worm counted? That would be my first port of call.

I would perhaps add a prebiotic or proboitic to their feed. I would, as you say, make sure that the water is clean and plentiful. I would check my fields for weeds. Other than that, I would watch and wait.

Have you recently had rain and a flush of grass?

 

[FieldOrnaments]

I would want to run your concerns re. colitis past a vet and get a pasture analysis and FEWC done.

Oily herbs can help the gut but I'd be leery about introducing anything new if currently got the runs but might be worth talking to a specialist like equibiome/independent nutritionist as well depending on what vet says.

I'm sorry, not much help really to just basically say 'talk to an expert'

 

[HaplessHorse]

I think they are probably due for a worm count, particularly now that a new horse has been introduced.

We’ve been rain-free for about a month so I don’t think fresh grass is the culprit.

If there’s no improvement by the evening, next port of call is vet.

 

[Rough and tumble]

I think it’s never unreasonable given history of colitis’s before how is she tonight xx

 

[Highmileagereindeer]

Double check that you are feeding enough. Ideally, horses should not go more than four hours without grazing. We all do our best to make this happen, but if you are dealing with restricted intake, you may have to get creative about slowing down the eating time.

 

[HaplessHorse]

Vet thinks that Saus has a hypermobile gut and is lacking fibre.

Saus is on the older side so it might be that she’s not digesting as well as she used to. I’m putting her on a balancer, as per vet instructions, and putting her on fibrous grazing.

I also suspect that Cob might be stealing Saus’s hay overnight when she runs out, which could be leaving Saus without hay for longer. (They have the same amount in very small-hole nets but Cob eats faster).

However, I do need to find a better long-term solution where they can eat consistently without gaining too much weight.

Would grazing muzzles help in the long term by letting them access forage consistently without gorging? If so, any muzzle recommendations?

 

[Highmileagereindeer]

Good shout. My cob lived 24/7 in a grazing muzzle, and was also fed daily to make sure he was getting enough. I used a Tough 1 Easy Breathe, imported from USA, as the grazing muzzle market wasn't great at the time. He is now rising 31, and due to failing dentition, can no longer have a muzzle. But seeing as our pasture is overcrowded, he is now on poorer grazing and looks fine.