Colitis help!

[Damnation]

Hi all!

My mare was last year diagnosed with colitis. We got it under control as it seemed to be hayledge that set it off. Cut out oily feeds, fed her basic feed and it worked.

This year she is on grass and only living out 24/7. As the vet advised its pretty poor quality hay. But recently she's been displaying agressive behaviour to the other horses at hay time.

Low and behold I think the colitis is back and it could be hormonal as there is nothing really that she eats to set it off. I think the moody behaviour could be linked to the flare up.

The vet said last year that its mainly management and careful feeding that keeps it at bay but there must be more I can do. There has been nothing to stress her, nothing has changed routine wise, and shes had no hard feed only grass and hay in the field twice a day so I'm at a bit of a loss!

My thoughts are deal with the hormones first, but what actually works? Once thats under control what works with colitis? Help!

 

[Silverfire]

Hi all!

My mare was last year diagnosed with colitis. We got it under control as it seemed to be hayledge that set it off. Cut out oily feeds, fed her basic feed and it worked.

This year she is on grass and only living out 24/7. As the vet advised its pretty poor quality hay. But recently she's been displaying agressive behaviour to the other horses at hay time.

Low and behold I think the colitis is back and it could be hormonal as there is nothing really that she eats to set it off. I think the moody behaviour could be linked to the flare up.

The vet said last year that its mainly management and careful feeding that keeps it at bay but there must be more I can do. There has been nothing to stress her, nothing has changed routine wise, and shes had no hard feed only grass and hay in the field twice a day so I'm at a bit of a loss!

My thoughts are deal with the hormones first, but what actually works? Once thats under control what works with colitis? Help!

Apart from the aggression why do you think the colitis is back? Sounds to me like she is hungry and trying to be boss over who gets hay first. I hate feeding hay to horses in the field because of the fact they all argue over who is having what pile, and chase each other away until finally settling down and eating. And thats horses with plenty of grass to eat too so hardly starving! I would of thought if she was feeling poorly she would be stood away from the others and not much interested in the hay?

 

[Damnation]

Luckylady - thank you, I will definitely look into that
SilverFire - she isn't hungry, always hay left over the next morning so they have pleanty. Started with the hard feed now (shes hardly thin or fading away) as a precaution. I think the colitis is back because of the erm.. residue on her back end and she is displaying very similar symptoms to her diagnosis last year. (Runny poo, etc)

 

[missmatch]

Have you tried her on a pre/probiotic or pink powder? Both of these helped my boy considerably after his diagnosis of colitis x

 

[Lucky Lady]

HI Damnation, if she isn't hungry that is probably a sign again of something gastric. I love to see my horses tucking into their feed, seeing them enjoying it and all is gone, so satisfying! Yes running poo definitely indicates not all is well! Let us know what you decide to do.